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The South Carolina Measles Outbreak Was Not Caused by Vaccines

By / / D8 strain, D8-9171, Highwire, measles outbreaks, measles strains, measles symptoms, MMR, MMR rash, MMR risks, south carolina measles outbreak, vaccine strains, wild type

Why do some people think that the South Carolina measles outbreak, the largest in recent history, has been caused by vaccines.

A vaccination push did not cause or worsen the South Carolina measles outbreak, which, as usual, have been caused by a wild type strain of measles.
A “vaccination push” did not cause or worsen the South Carolina measles outbreak, which, as usual, has been caused by a wild type strain of measles. Despite claims of anti-vaccine influencers, the SC DPH has confirmed that have been doing testing and all returned specimens have been ‘genotype D8, direct sequence ID 9171,’ not a vaccine strain.

The usual suspects…

The South Carolina Measles Outbreak Was Not Caused by Vaccines

Of course, like all other outbreaks, the South Carolina measles outbreak was not caused by vaccines.

That doesn’t stop anti-vaccine influencers from trying to recycle this old argument, blaming a vaccine for a problem that they have caused by scaring people away from getting vaccinated and protected.

These outbreaks are always caused by a wild type strain of measles, not the vaccine strain.

“In South Carolina, the strains have not shown any difference from the predominant strain in the United States.”

DPH Media Briefing Measles Update 2-18-26

And what’s been the predominant strain in the United States causing outbreaks?

It is not a vaccine strain!

“Current outbreaks in Utah and Arizona involve the D8-9171 genotype, the same strain detected in the Texas outbreak and circulating in Canada and Mexico.”

Measles Scenario-Based Human Health Risk Assessment

It is the D8 wild type strain of measles.

Anyway, for argument’s sake, let’s consider the theory from these folks at The Highwire:

“That same county just did a massive vaccination push. They vaccinated over 1,200 kids aged 6 months to 11 months.

The MMR vaccine is a live virus vaccine. About 7% of kids who get it will develop a rash and/or fever, which meets the clinical definition of measles.

And those vaccinated kids? They can spread it.”

The Highwire

So, let’s do the math.

If 1,200 kids were vaccinated and 7% can develop a fever and a rash that might be confused with measles, then that is only 84 kids, far below the 962 confirmed cases in the outbreak!

More importantly though, people who have a fever and/or rash after their MMR vaccine don’t actually have measles. And simply having a rash and fever after an MMR doesn’t meet the “clinical definition of measles.”

For one thing, they don’t have any of the classic measles symptoms and their fever and rash doesn’t follow the classic pattern you see with measles. And then there is the simple fact that they aren’t contagious!

Also, think about it, why do they have these kinds of “vaccine pushes” during outbreaks of measles?

That’s right!

It is because a measles outbreak has already started!

Don’t be fooled.

If you still need convincing, know that the measles outbreak in South Carolina began in October 2025 and they didn’t start seeing any kind of increase in vaccination rates until January 2026.

“During a media call earlier in the week, Bell said state health officials are encouraged by increases in measles vaccination during January. In Spartanburg County, the number of measles vaccines given last month was up 162% over January 2025, an increase of more than 1,000 doses, she said. Statewide, measles vaccination was up 72%, with about 7,000 more doses given across South Carolina last month than were administered in January 2025. “So far, this is the best month for measles vaccination during this outbreak,” Bell said.

How the South Carolina measles outbreak grew from 5 to 962 cases

By then, cases were already surging – mostly among school age children who were unvaccinated.

Also, many more doses of the MMR vaccine were given all over the state.

If the vaccine causes more outbreaks, why didn’t cases pop up all over the state?

And why are we only seeing more measles now that overall vaccination rates are dropping?!?

Of course, it is because the MMR vaccines doesn’t cause measles outbreaks – it works to prevent and stop measles outbreaks!

Get vaccinated. Stop the Outbreaks.

More on the Measles Outbreak in South Carolina

Last Updated on February 19, 2026