Summary of evidence on UK measles incidence, mortality and virus harms database.

1. Measles
September 2014

2. MEASLES INCIDENCE BEGAN TO
DECLINE BEFORE MASS UPTAKE OF
VACCINATION
0
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
700,000
800,000
900,000
1940
1942
1944
1946
1948
1950
1952
1954
1956
1958
1960
1962
1964
1966
1968
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
Notifications
Measles notifications in England & Wales
Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/measles-deaths-by-age-group-from-1980-to-2013-ons-data/measles-notifications-
and-deaths-in-england-and-wales-1940-to-2013; 5 Immunisation Uptake Rates – completed primary course: two year rate England and
Wales 1966-77, England only 1978-195/6. Department of Health Statistics Division, Communicable Diseases surveillance Centre, UK
Vaccine uptake rate exceeds 55% for first
time in 1980.
Measles vaccine introduced in 1968. 33% uptake in that
year.

3. AROUND 90% OF MEASLES DEATH RATE
DECLINE WAS BEFORE VACCINATION
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1940
1942
1944
1946
1948
1950
1952
1954
1956
1958
1960
1962
1964
1966
1968
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
Notifications
Total Deaths from Measles
Total Deaths
Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/measles-deaths-by-age-group-from-1980-to-2013-ons-data/measles-notifications-
and-deaths-in-england-and-wales-1940-to-2013
99% of the reduction in measles deaths happened BEFORE
vaccination was introduced in1968
At least 20% of mortality in the 2000s
has been in immune compromised
patients.

4. PERCEPTION OF MEASLES AS A
SERIOUS CONDITION IS RELATIVELY
RECENT
1964:
“In this country at least,
measles is now usually
regarded as a minor childhood
illness through which we all
must pass rather than as a
public health problem.”
2014:
“Complications can develop
from measles, some of which
can be extremely serious. It's
estimated that around one in
every 5,000 people with
measles will die as a result of a
serious complication.”
Source: Miller DL Frequency of complications of measles, 1963. Report on a National Inquiry by the public health laboratory service in
collaboration with the society of medical officers of health. Br Med J. 1964 Jul 11;2(5401):75-8
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1815949/pdf/brmedj02558-0019.pdf;
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Measles/Pages/Complications.aspx

5. MEASLES COMPLICATIONS CORRELATE
WITH NUTRITION/HEALTH, NOT
VACCINATION
• “Severe measles is more
likely among poorly
nourished young children,
especially those with
insufficient vitamin A, or
whose immune systems
have been weakened by
HIV/AIDS or other
diseases…. As high as
10% of measles cases
result in death among
populations with high
levels of malnutrition and
lack of adequate health
care”
• “Severe complications
from measles can be
avoided though
supportive care that
ensures good nutrition
(beforehand?), adequate
fluid intake and treatment
of dehydration (through
diarrhoea or vomiting)
with WHO-recommended
oral rehydration solution.”
• “Antibiotics should be
prescribed to treat eye
and ear infections, and
pneumonia.“
Source: World Health Organisations, http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs286/en/

6. US PATIENTS SELF-REPORTED >320
SERIOUS ADVERSE REACTIONS TO
MEASLES VACCINE IN 2013
• Data comes from
Vaccine Adverse
Events Reporting
System (VAERS).
• The Vaccine Adverse
Event Reporting
System (VAERS) is a
USA vaccine safety
surveillance program
co-sponsored by the
Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention
(CDC) and the Food
and Drug Administration
(FDA).
• Data shows reports for
whole of USA, 2013 for:
– Measles + Rubella
(live)
– Measles + Mumps
(live)
– Measles + Mumps
+ Rubella (live)
– Measles + Mumps
+ Rubella +
Varicella (live)
• Europe has no
equivalent system to
VAERS.
6 9
32
47
229
0
50
100
150
200
250
Hospitalized,
Prolonged
Death Permanent
Disability
Life Threating Hospitalized
Patient reported adverse measles
vaccination events, USA, 2013
Source: http://www.medalerts.org/;; http://vaers.hhs.gov/index
58.2% of reported events occurred in
children under 3 years old.

7. SOME STUDIES SUGGEST MEASLES
MAY HAVE BENIGN LONG-TERM HEALTH
EFFECTS
• A study conducted by the Danish epidemiologist
Tove Rønne and published in the Lancet in 1985,
found that having measles with a typical rash was
associated with a lower incidence of developing
immunoreactive diseases, sebaceous skin diseases,
diseases of bone, cartilage and certain tumours in
adult life.
• Early exposure to measles may be associated with a
lower risk of adult onset doctor diagnosed asthma.
• A statistically significant inverse association between
measles vaccination and atopic (allergic)
sensitization was found in relation to allergen-
specific serum IgE level of 3.5 kU/L.23 (meaning
those with measles had less allergy).
Source: www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(85)90961-4/abstract;
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1745751/pdf/v055p00383.pdf; Rosenlund H et al,.Allergic disease and atopic sensitization in
children in relation to measles vaccination and measles infection. Pediatrics. 2009 Mar;123(3):771-8.
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/123/3/771.full.pdf+html