Written by Professor Ezzard Ernst Mailonline
February 11, 2024 13:58, Updated February 11, 2024 14:07
A few years ago, we were celebrating the fact that measles was almost eradicated. Sadly, we were too quick to rejoice.
In 2022, 9 million people worldwide will be infected with the virus and 136,000 people, mainly children, will die. Last year there were measles outbreaks in 37 countries.
In the UK, the number of measles infections has almost tripled in the past week, with 314 suspected cases in England and Wales, up from 129 the previous week.
So far this year, the number has been about 600, more than 10 times the number for the same period in 2023.
The Ministry of Health calls for immediate action to ensure that all children are vaccinated.
Because the measles virus is highly contagious, at least 95 percent of the population needs to be vaccinated to ensure herd immunity.
However, the UK’s vaccination rate currently stands at just 85%.
The reasons for the prevalence of vaccine fatigue are certainly complex.
What is often ignored is the fact that many alternative medicine practitioners recommend against vaccination.
A recent survey found that the main causes of vaccine hesitancy were concerns about vaccine safety and efficacy, the risk and burden of measles, and distrust of experts.
Alternative practitioners like to exploit such fears. They tend to exaggerate the risks of vaccination and question its effectiveness.
Many argue that vaccination is a conspiracy to enrich the hated pharmaceutical industry.
The reason for the negative stance of alternative practitioners is simple. Already during training they are under the misconception that their treatment can replace all vaccinations in a holistic and completely natural way.
For example, many homeopaths offer a unique but completely ineffective form of vaccination called “homeoprophylaxis.”
The British Association of Homeopaths insists its members must not “provide advice or participate in patient decisions regarding vaccination”.
However, it only takes a few seconds to find a UK practitioner who offers homeo preventive therapy.
Just a few years ago, London-based homeopathic pharmacy Ainsworth was criticized for selling a homeopathic treatment for measles, and ‘Dr Martin’s’ was criticized for selling a homeopathic treatment for measles. Reckeweg R62 Measles Drops are readily available on the internet.
Measles is highly contagious and can cause serious complications, including death.
In my opinion, this disease is too serious to tolerate the intervention of charlatans.
- Professor Ezzard Ernst is a world-renowned researcher in complementary medicine, founder of three medical journals, and emeritus professor at the University of Exeter.
