The world is currently waging war against infectious diseases. Following the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), measles is spreading again. The reliance is on "vaccines." A significant portion of the population must form herd immunity to stop the pandemic.
Nevertheless, conspiracy theories claiming that "vaccines cause autism" are rampant. This was said by Robert Kennedy, Minister of Health and Human Services in the United States. The number of people refusing vaccination based on baseless claims is increasing. As a result, this year, the United States reported hundreds of measles cases, and there have been incidents where a 6-year-old and an 8-year-old died.
Choi Jun-yong, a professor in the Department of Infectious Diseases at Severance Hospital, and Daniel Furtner, head of the CSL Seqirus Asia-Pacific Medical Division, noted in an interview at Severance Hospital in Seoul on the 23rd of last month that "there is no scientific evidence that vaccines cause serious diseases," adding, "Just as the military prepares for war, we must prepare for infectious diseases with vaccines."
CSL Seqirus is an influenza vaccine corporation. The parent company, CSL, was established in Australia in 1916. CSL Seqirus was formed by merging the influenza vaccine division of Swiss Novartis and CSL's vaccine subsidiary, BioCSL.
◇Does the vaccine cause autism?…Proven to be a manipulated study
Both individuals stated that as conspiracy theories spread, they must persuade opponents and strengthen vaccination efforts. Professor Choi noted that "the attitude of refusing vaccines without scientific evidence can have negative impacts on society as a whole," stating, "If vaccinations are not administered, herd immunity will decline, and new infectious diseases may emerge."
The effectiveness of vaccines is clear. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that over the past 50 years, since 1974, vaccines have saved the lives of more than 154 million people. Vaccines work by injecting a non-toxic virus into the body, triggering an immune response. By experiencing and preparing for a small number of adversaries, the body can respond immediately even when a large force invades. Vaccines can prevent infectious diseases such as COVID-19, measles, and influenza.
Although the vaccine myths have been proven false, people continue to spread fear about vaccines in the healthcare field. In 1988, British physician Andrew Wakefield published research claiming that the MMR vaccine, which prevents measles and rubella, causes autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Later, this was revealed to be a fraudulent study with manipulated data, leading to Wakefield's medical license being revoked.
The vaccine myths have been proven false but continue to spread on social media, breeding opponents. Notable figures include U.S. President Donald Trump and Minister Robert Kennedy. Both have made unverified claims that vaccines increase the risk of autism.
Daniel stated, "Infectious diseases are not simply individual issues," adding, "They can spread to others, resulting in social problems." This implies that opposing vaccines could harm others. Professor Choi remarked, "Without knowing it, I could spread infectious disease viruses and put my loved ones at risk," stressing, "It's better to get vaccinated rather than regret it later."
It is particularly dangerous if someone who influences policy falls into conspiracy theories. Since taking office in January, President Trump officially declared the U.S. withdrawal from the WHO and also stated that he would fire over 10,000 health agency employees, including those at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As a result, the number of people hesitant about vaccinations in the U.S. is increasing, and measles, which was declared eradicated in 2000, is making a comeback.
◇Older adults with weakened immunity need stronger vaccines
Professor Choi stated, of course, that no medication has a 0% chance of side effects. He said, "All medications, including vaccines, cannot completely avoid side effects," adding, "Nevertheless, I recommend vaccinations because the benefits of vaccines far outweigh the risks of side effects."
Daniel noted, "There may be slight mild symptoms after vaccination, but most recover quickly," adding, "Serious health impacts are rare."
Both individuals said that in South Korea, a super-aged country where 20% of the population is over 65, vaccines are even more critical. They mentioned that immunity decreases with age, necessitating stronger high-immunogenicity vaccines. Professor Choi stated, "High-immunogenicity vaccines have a longer-lasting effect in preventing infectious diseases than ordinary vaccines," remarking that the risks of complications like pneumonia or death are relatively low.
The Danish National Serum Institute conducted a study comparing high-immunogenicity vaccines and standard vaccines from October last year to March this year on more than 32,900 individuals aged 65 and older. The results showed that the high-immunogenicity vaccine had a preventive effect against influenza of 48%, higher than that of the standard vaccine (33%).
The issue is the expense. In our country, influenza vaccines are provided free of charge to those over 65, but switching to high-immunogenicity vaccines would require additional budgetary allocation. Professor Choi suggested that a phased introduction could be considered, taking into account the financial burden on medical services.
He suggested that if it is difficult to provide high-immunogenicity vaccines uniformly to those over 65, it could be considered to prioritize those above 70 or 80 years of age and gradually expand the application. In fact, Denmark provides high-immunogenicity vaccines to those over 70, while Norway provides them to elderly individuals in nursing homes.
References
Euro surveillance(2025), DOI: https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.es.2025.30.12.2500174