Concerns Over Vaccination as Preventable Diseases Resurge

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Before vaccination became widespread, many children faced an early death. Infectious diseases were rampant, tragically claiming the lives of millions in America. Back in 1900, nearly 20% of children didn’t reach their fifth birthday due to these illnesses.

Over the last hundred years, vaccines nearly eradicated dreaded diseases like polio and measles, significantly lowering the death toll from various others. However, today, vaccine hesitancy is causing some preventable diseases to reappear, leading to declining immunization rates. Even established vaccines are increasingly met with skepticism, fueled by influences like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a well-known anti-vaccine advocate, now involved with federal health policies.

“This hesitancy, these questions about vaccines stem from their success—because they’ve essentially removed the diseases,” says Dr. William Schaffner from Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “If people aren’t familiar with these diseases, they don’t fear them. Hence, the vaccine isn’t valued.”

Anti-vaccine activists often highlight the rare side effects of vaccinations while disregarding the substantial risks posed by the diseases themselves. Years of evidence underscore that vaccines are safe.

Some individuals have experienced the harsh realities of these preventable diseases firsthand. For them, news about measles outbreaks or rising whooping cough cases conjures painful memories and drives a desire to protect others from similar suffering.

The Impact of Rubella During Pregnancy

In a Sioux Falls art center, 80-year-old Janith Farnham skillfully guided her 60-year-old daughter Jacque’s walker around. They paused to admire a painting of a cow in a hat. Janith pointed out the hat, mirroring Jacque’s Minnesota Twins cap.

“That’s so funny!” Janith said, leaning in to express the sentiment through sign language as well.

Jacque was born with congenital rubella syndrome due to her mother contracting rubella early in pregnancy—a time when the risk of such consequences was high, with chances reaching up to 90%. There was no vaccine available back then.

Janith sensed something was wrong right away. The baby did not respond to sounds or engage with anything other than lights, and she didn’t like being held closely. Jacque’s heart was also problematic, necessitating surgery when she was just four months old.

Janith did everything possible to support Jacque’s development, including enrolling her in specialized schools and connecting with other parents in support groups.

As an adult, Jacque faced numerous health challenges, including diabetes and autistic traits, and eventually arthritis.

Now, Jacque resides close to Janith, in an adult home, surrounded by cherished memorabilia. Their regular visits include playful interactions with Janith’s dog and watching sports. Jacque’s affectionate nature shines through as she shares kisses and often signs “double I love yous” to everyone she meets.

“Sometimes it feels like she doesn’t know anything different after everything she’s been through,” Janith reflected.

Given her experiences, Janith feels frustrated—and even angry—about those who hesitate to vaccinate their children against measles, mumps, and rubella. She simply wants to prevent others from facing similar pain.

Measles Vaccine Delays Can Be Fatal

Decades later, Patricia Tobin still remembers the day she came home from work to find her mother screaming. Inside, her sister Karen lay unconscious on the bathroom floor.

It was 1970, and measles had taken hold of Karen shortly after Easter. Though an early vaccine existed, it wasn’t mandated for school in Miami at that time. A doctor had suggested the vaccine, but their mother felt there was still time.

Then, an outbreak occurred. Karen, described as a sweet and endearing child, quickly fell ill. The afternoon she collapsed, Tobin, then 19, called for help, but Karen never regained consciousness.

“She went into a coma and died from encephalitis,” Tobin said, recounting the harrowing moments at the hospital.

Now, while states mandate certain vaccines for school attendance, a growing number of individuals are using exemptions for various reasons. Schaffner pointed out that fading memories of measles outbreaks, coupled with discredited studies linking the MMR vaccine to autism, contribute to this dilemma.

Consequently, many states fall below the 95% vaccination threshold needed to keep communities safe from outbreaks.

“It’s deeply troubling how cavalier people are about measles,” Tobin said. “I don’t think they understand the devastation it can cause.”

Polio’s Lingering Effects

Lora Duguay’s earliest memory is being isolated in a hospital at just three years old, her paralyzed body packed in ice. The year was 1959, and polio had struck.

“I could see my parents through a glass window, crying while I screamed,” reflected Duguay, now 68. “Doctors told my parents I may never walk again.”

Polio mainly affected children and was one of the most feared diseases, causing panic among parents during outbreaks. The vaccine was welcomed with open arms, though early versions had only moderate efficacy.

Duguay initially defied expectations. After extensive rehabilitation, she learned to walk and even run, living a productive life. But in her 40s, signs of post-polio syndrome emerged, complicating her mobility.

After struggling with her condition, Duguay turned to art for expression and purpose, creating smaller works now that larger oil paintings are difficult for her to manage.

Fortunately, the U.S. has largely eliminated polio due to widespread vaccination, not only protecting individuals but also preventing outbreaks.

A Heartbreaking Loss to Whooping Cough

Every night, Katie Van Tornhout gently rubs a casting of her daughter’s tiny foot—a painful reminder of Callie, who succumbed to whooping cough just 37 days after birth.

Callie Grace was born on Christmas Eve 2009, after a long wait for a child. Though a bit early, she seemed perfectly healthy.

“She adored having her feet rubbed,” recalled Van Tornhout, now 40. “She was such a perfect baby.”

However, once Callie turned a month old, she developed a cough. A visit to the doctor didn’t raise alarms, but her condition deteriorated quickly. In the waiting room, Callie’s health plummeted, and though brief medical interventions initially helped, tragedy struck moments later.

“Within minutes, she was gone,” Van Tornhout said, recalling the indescribable grief of losing her daughter after only a few short weeks.

Callie’s memorial was held on her original due date, coinciding with CDC confirmation that she had whooping cough, a disease she couldn’t be vaccinated against due to her age and exposure to someone who hadn’t received a booster.

Now, alongside Callie’s cast are mementos and an urn filled with her ashes. Van Tornhout shares her story to advocate for childhood immunization and educate others about its importance, hoping to spare other families the grief she endured.

“It’s the duty of adults to protect our children. I watched my daughter die from something preventable. No one should have to walk in my shoes,” she said.