Measles outbreak underscores the importance of vaccination

Measles had a turbulent 20th century: Thousands died from the disease 100 years ago; 50 years ago, we saw the advent of a national vaccination program, and in 2000, the disease was declared eliminated in the United States.
Unfortunately, widespread misunderstanding and misinformation over the last two decades have caused some regression, culminating in this year’s outbreak. With more than 800 confirmed measles cases confirmed, the disease has wrought more damage this year than at any time