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Despite the growing number of cases of measles and the official desire to strengthen vaccinations, Alexandre Cerqueira and his partner, Nhep Srey Mom, are determined not to vaccinate their two young children against the disease.
Mr. Cerqueira lives in the country of Louis Pasteur, the French biologist who discovered the principles of vaccination in the 19th century. But he doubts nevertheless about the effectiveness of the vaccine, is worried about the presence of very small amounts of aluminum and is worried about what he considers as potential side effects such as autism.
Scientific research overwhelmingly confirms the need for vaccinations. However, Mr Cerqueira believes that the profit potential of vaccines for large pharmaceutical companies is the engine of the industry, thinks that statistics can be manipulated by interested parties such as politicians, and is skeptical about the role so-called medical experts in the debate.
"I do not like to call them conspiracy theories because it denigrates the ability of ordinary citizens to do their own research and analysis," said 36-year-old Cerqueira. "It's not because you're in an important position necessarily right.
The latest figures from the World Health Organization show that the number of measles outbreaks has increased sixfold last year in France. Last year, nearly 3,000 people contracted measles in France and three died. The authorities have adopted a rigorous new approach to mandatory vaccination, threatening to prevent unvaccinated children from attending school.
This has further angered anti-vaxxers such as Mr Cerqueira, who will have to prove that their children have been vaccinated before they can go to school.
"We will be forced to vaccinate our children, against our will, to go to school," he said. "It's very difficult to find yourself in this situation."
The trend in France is part of the global phenomenon. The WHO warned that efforts to curb the spread of measles worldwide are slowing down, reports suggesting that the number of cases worldwide has risen by about 50 percent. last year.
In the Philippines, for example, authorities have warned that there have been 5,600 cases of the disease and 87 deaths so far this year, more than double the 2,500 cases seen in a normal year. They also accused parents of not vaccinating their children because of dengvaxie, a Sanofi dengue vaccine that was interrupted and caused the illness of some children.
"This is an absolutely preventable epidemic," said Gundo Weiler, WHO representative in Manila.
Increased skepticism is at odds with the growth of a populist discourse on immunization, focused on mistrust of experts, scientists and elites.
President Donald Trump has already linked MMR immunizations (measles, mumps and rubella) to autism, although research that initially suggested this link has been widely discredited.
In Italy, the government in power anti-establishment in power has removed the legal obligation to vaccinate children. In France, the right-wing leader Marine Le Pen has asserted the right of people to say "no" to the country's new mandatory vaccinations.
"The wave of populism contributes to a decline in vaccination rates," said Nicolas Bouzou, economist in Asteres. "The populists have built a story of collusion between the big pharmaceutical companies, the government and the statistics."
Although overall, more children in Europe are vaccinated against measles than ever before, according to the WHO, there are still large pockets where vaccination rates are low, making people vulnerable to measles. infection.
The WHO recommends that at least 95% of each population be immunized, either by administering vaccine doses, or by prior exposure to the virus, to ensure the protection of all.
In France, in 2017, only 80% of the population had received both doses of measles vaccine. In some regions, this figure does not exceed 65%. French Health Minister Agnès Buzyn said last week that malaria was a "young unvaccinated person born after the late 1980s and who had never been in contact with the virus. . "
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"There is a great climate of hesitation with respect to vaccines in France, for all vaccinations, not just for measles," said Evelyne Caulin, Associate Director of Medical Affairs for the pharmaceutical company MSD.
Vaccination rates in difficulty in countries like France stem from a "lack of awareness of the benefits of vaccines, problems of supply and access, and a climate of mistrust with respect to vaccines, "said Dr. Siddhartha Datta, head of vaccine-preventable diseases. immunization program at WHO.
Last year, France increased the number of mandatory vaccinations for children aged three to eleven and now includes MMR in mandatory vaccines.
This supports work at European level, including a European Immunization Action Plan, whose priorities include the provision of MMR and polio vaccines to refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in the region.
Some warning signs indicate that France's new mandatory vaccination program has had a positive impact. In January, 155 cases of measles were reported, against 404 in January 2018, according to the French health authorities. Mr Cerqueira is nevertheless reluctant. He continues to do his own research.
"Experts tell us that we are not smart enough to understand, that we do not see all the problems," he said. "But there are things the government wants us to not see, that we do not know."
Additional report by John Reed in Manila
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