A recent case at the Infectious Diseases Clinic, where a child infected with measles ended up in intensive care, brings to attention the concrete consequences of hesitancy towards vaccination. According to doctors, the parents had decided not to vaccinate the child, influenced by misinformation that are widely circulating on social networks and online spaces. This is not an isolated case: also the children's parents Other hospitalized patients have cited fear of alleged side effects as a reason for refusing the vaccine.
In this context, one of the most widespread claims is the false link between the measles vaccine and autism. This thesis continues to influence parental decision-making, despite having been long debunked by the scientific community. The direct consequence of this misinformation is the reduction in vaccination coverage, increasing the risk of outbreaks of preventable diseases. From 89 percent, the coverage with this vaccine in 2024, fell to 82 percent the following year.
Law on the Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases in Kosovo requires that every child enrolled in kindergarten or school be provided with proof of vaccination. However, comments from some mothers suggest that this criterion is not being fully respected.
According to the vaccination calendar, children should get the MMR vaccine M (Measles) M (Mumps) R (Rubella), at the age of one year and at the age of 6-7 years. It protects against measles, which is a contagious viral disease that manifests itself with high fever, cough and skin rash.
The unfounded link between the measles vaccine (MMR) and autism
The narrative linking the MMR vaccine to autism is considered, in media and scientific analysis, to be a persistent misinformation that has gone from an isolated claim to a widespread public belief. It is not based on empirical evidence, but on a combination of factors: parental fear, misinterpreted individual experiences, and amplification by social media.
Faik Hoti, Public Health specialist at the National Institute of Public Health of Kosovo and editor-in-chief of the "Mjeku" Magazine, assesses this narrative as part of a "epidemic of ignorance", positioning it not simply as a lack of information, but as an active phenomenon that is produced and distributed in an organized manner in the digital space.
Even the infectious disease specialist Izet Sadiku emphasizes that The spread of misinformation on social media has directly impacted the decline in vaccination, causing around 5 children in Kosovo to not be immunized on time. He warns that measles is a highly contagious disease that can cause serious complications, especially in unvaccinated children. According to him, the vaccine is safe and effective, and there is no link between vaccination and autism.
also Kosovo National Institute of Public Health has clearly stated that measles vaccination is safe and does not cause autism, underlining that the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine is the safest way and effective in preventing this disease.
Scientific research also strongly supports this position. A meta-analysis of published epidemiological studies have concluded that the MMR vaccine is not associated with an increased risk of autism.
A study in Denmark in 2025, based on health records, which analyzed more than a million children, has found no link between childhood vaccine ingredients and a range of health conditions, including autism, asthma or autoimmune diseases. The results show that even exposure to very small amounts of aluminum, which is used as an adjuvant in some vaccines, does not increase the risk of these disorders during childhood. In this way, the findings of this study further strengthen the scientific consensus that childhood vaccination programs are safe and not linked to autism, while also confirming the importance of vaccination for protection against preventable diseases such as measles.
In addition, a recent analysis of a group of experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) on vaccine safety has reconfirmed, based on a large number of international studies, that there is no causal link between vaccines and autism spectrum disorders. This assessment is based on data collected over decades from numerous studies in different countries, which have consistently found no link between childhood vaccination and the development of autism.
The context of the conspiracy theory
The claim that the MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, and rubella) causes autism stems from from a 1998 study published by Andrew Wakefield. This study was not only inaccurate, but also manipulated and motivated by financial interests. The scientific journal “The Lancet” retracted the article, while Wakefield lost his license to practice. Since then, dozens of major international studies have confirmed that there is no cause-and-effect relationship between vaccines and autism.
Organizations like the WHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention consistently emphasize that vaccines are safe and effective. Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder, with genetic and biological factors, and is not related to vaccination. However, the spread of unverified personal experiences and emotional narratives on social media often creates a false perception of risk.
The decline in vaccination coverage in Kosovo, from 89% to 82% within a year, demonstrates the concrete impact of these narratives. When a significant number of children remain unvaccinated, collective immunity is compromised and the possibility of the rapid spread of infectious diseases in communities, especially in nurseries and schools, increases.
The case of the child in critical condition is not just a health statistic, but a direct consequence of misinformation. It illustrates how inaccurate information can translate into life-threatening decisions. In the face of this, health professionals emphasize the need for parents to turn to reliable sources and consult with doctors, treating vaccination not as a choice based on fear, but as a necessary protection for public health.