It’s a shame that most people only know of Alexander Langmuir because anti-vaccine folks like to make it sound like he was against vaccines.
How do they do that?
By making up quotes and using some real quotes out of context.
Alexander Langmuir on Measles
Remember the Alexander Langmuir quotes about flu vaccines?
He never really said that “no one should take the flu vaccine.”
And now folks are misrepresenting what he said about measles.
So what did he really say?
“This self-limiting infection of short duration, moderate severity, and low fatality has maintained a remarkably stable biological balance over the centuries. Those epidemiologists, and there are many, who tend to revere the biological balance have long argued that the ecological equilibrium of measles is solidly based, that it can not readily be disrupted and that therefore we must learn to live with this parasite rather than hope to eradicate it. This speaker, not so long ago, was counted among this group and waxed eloquent on this subject in print.
Happily, this era is ending. New and potent tools that promise effective control of measles are at hand. If properly developed and wisely used, it should be possible to disrupt the biological balance of measles. Its eradication from large continental landmasses such as North America and many other parts of the world can be anticipated soon.”
Alexander Langmuir et al on The Importance of Measles as a Health Problem
Alexander Langmuir didn’t think that measles was a benign disease.
“…any parent who has seen his small child suffer even for a few days with persistent fever of 105, with hacking cough and delirium wants to see this prevented…”
Alexander Langmuir
And he thought that we should work to eradicate it.
“The availability of potent and effective measles vaccines, which have been tested extensively of the past 4 years, provides the basis for the eradication of measles in any community that will raise its immune thresholds to readily attainable levels.”
Alexander Langmuir et al on Epidemiologic Basis For Eradication Of Measles In 1967
Alexender Langmuir, who was Chief Epidemiologist at CDC for 21 years and founded the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS), said that “all infants should receive measles vaccine at approximately 1 year of age.”
What else did he say?
“When measles has become so widespread that epidemics are already present in several schools and in different communities within a city or county, more extensive communitywide measures must be undertaken. Then the full resources of the health and medical services of the total community, backed by well-coordinated voluntary agencies, will need to be mobilized. Again, priority should be directed first to the immunization of susceptible children in schools or who congregate in other enclosed spaces. If such immunization programs are carried out promptly and effectively, an epidemic of measles can be contained within 2 to 3 weeks.”
Alexander Langmuir
It would be nice to get back to where we could contain outbreaks in 2 to 3 weeks.
It would be nice if folks really listened to what Alexander Langmuir had to say and vaccinated their kids.