A measles outbreak in South Carolina, driven by low vaccination rates, is reigniting concerns over vaccine hesitancy and its public health risks.

A measles outbreak in South Carolina’s Spartanburg County, the largest in decades, underscores growing vaccine hesitancy nationwide. Declining vaccination rates—below the 95% threshold needed for herd immunity—have reversed progress made since measles was declared eliminated in 2000. Parents like Kate Morrow, whose premature twins are vulnerable, express frustration over neighbors’ refusal to vaccinate. Others, such as Margarita DeLuca, cite pandemic-era distrust, rapid vaccine development, and personal experiences—like a child’s post-vaccination seizure—as reasons to delay or skip shots, despite medical reassurance that such events are typically unrelated to vaccines. Pediatricians stress that unvaccinated children face higher risks of severe complications, including brain swelling and pneumonia, and warn that misinformation, especially on social media, continues to erode public trust in science-based medicine.