Addressing MMR Vaccine Resistance in Minnesotas Somali Community.

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Minn Med. 2015 Oct;98(10):33-6.

Addressing MMR Vaccine Resistance in Minnesotas Somali Community.

Bahta L Ashkir A.

Abstract

Over the past 10 years Minnesota clinicians have noticed increased resistance to MMR vaccination among Somali Minnesotans. Misinformation about a discredited study asserting a link between the MMR vaccine and autism has permeated this community as parents have increasingly become concerned about the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among their children. As a result MMR vaccination rates among U.S.-born children of Somali descent are declining. This article reports findings from an investigation by the Minnesota Department of Health which was undertaken to better understand vaccine hesitancy among Somali Minnesotans. Based on these and other findings we propose a multi-pronged approach for increasing vaccination rates in this population.