On Measles, Vaccination, Social Media Activism, and How to Win Back Our Role as Our Patients’ Best Advocates

Abstract Once declared transmission free in the United States less than 20 years ago, measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases have made a spectacular comeback. Waning public support for childhood immunization and subsequent recent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases have been spawned by several technological and social factors, including the erosion of the provider-patient relationship, the emergence of internet-based patient resources and social media sites, and the rise of online healthcare activism. New tools are needed for physicians and healthcare providers to reverse this trend and regain our role as our patients’ best advocates. A resurgence of several vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles, has occurred since 2000. Such outbreaks are due to specific technological and social factors. Providers need new tools to reverse this trend and regain our role as our patients’ best advocates.