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Addressing misconceptions on measles vaccination
Since the introduction of vaccination, myths and misconceptions regarding vaccination have been present. Scientific research in psychology has shown that addressing these misconceptions is difficult: mere reading about a myth, even about a myth’s refutation, can strengthen the myth, rather than weaken its influence. Likewise, an explicit and strong negation of a risk can paradoxically increase rather than decrease the perception of risk in readers.
Facts about measles
Measles is an acute illness caused by morbillivirus. The disease is transmitted via airborne respiratory droplets, or by direct contact with nasal and throat secretions of infected individuals.
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Measles in Europe - A picture of outbreaks in the EU/EEA
Measles is an acute, highly contagious disease capable of creating epidemics. It can be contracted at any age.
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Measles: the journey of one outbreak
In just one outbreak, 64 people caught measles in eight different regions across Slovenia, Italy and Belgium in less than eight weeks.
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95% vaccination coverage for a Measles-free EU
A 95% vaccination coverage rate is needed in order for the EU to become measles-free.
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ECDC Vaccine Scheduler
The Vaccine Scheduler is an interactive tool that shows vaccination schedules for individual EU/EEA countries and specific age groups. With this tool comparisons can be made for vaccination schedules between two countries or by disease for all or a selection of countries.
- Diphtheria
- Europe
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Human papillomavirus infection
- Immunisation
- Influenza in humans, seasonal
- Invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease
- Measles
- Meningococcal disease
- Pertussis
- Pneumococcal disease
- Poliomyelitis
- Prevention and control
- Rotavirus infection
- Rubella
- Tetanus
- Tick-borne diseases
- Tuberculosis
- Varicella
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Patient story - Nastasia’s story – ECDC/Euronews video
Nastasia has made a spectacular recovery. Just a year ago she was in a coma after contracting measles. The 16-year old who lives in Valence, in south eastern France, suddenly complained of a sore throat, red spots appeared and she had a high temperature. After one week at 41°C, she was hospitalised, diagnosed with measles encephalitis.