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How Did the Fear of Measles Grow?
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How Did the Fear of Measles Grow?
I recently came across this excerpt from the 1982 edition of Babar and the Doctor (see images) by Laurent de Brunhoff:
“Measles isn’t a serious illness, so after a few days the children were able to get up. But they stayed in their room and played quiet games.”
It really sad to see how dramatically the conversation around measles has changed over the past few decades.
Before the measles vaccine was introduced in 1963, measles was widely regarded as a common childhood illness. Baby books often included pages where parents could record the date their child had measles, mumps, rubella, or chickenpox, almost like developmental milestones. Many families simply expected children to go through these illnesses and recover, gaining what was considered lifelong natural immunity. Popular culture reflected this too, from children’s books to television shows like The Brady Bunch.
After the vaccine was introduced, the public health messaging changed significantly. What had once been viewed as a routine childhood illness became something to be feared, with public campaigns promoting vaccination eventually evolving into mandates and strong social pressure.
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