measels Archives - Social Science in Humanitarian Action Platform

Health Epidemics Evaluation Report

In 2012 Uganda experienced many disease outbreaks including Measles, Ebola, Marburg and Nodding disease. Two Ebola outbreaks and one Marburg event were in quick succession and placed the Ministry of Health and the Uganda Red Cross (URCS) as well as other partners under significant pressure to respond to one of the world’s deadliest diseases in three separate locations.
The objectives of the evaluation included: 1. Review current operating procedures of URCS’ epidemic response including the roles and responsibilities of URCS in relation to MoH, WHO and other partners as well as internal structures for coordination and integrations of activities across departments. 2. Review the operational effectiveness and accountability of the response against planned outcomes and the use of DREF funds against proposed activities 3. Evaluate the response of URCS to epidemics, against the needs of beneficiaries and communities focused on the areas of most ‘added value’ of the URCS;

MMR Mobilisation: Citizens and Science in a British Vaccine Controversy

Evidence Reviews

This paper examines the controversy over measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine in Britain through the lenses of social movement theory and social studies of science. Since the early 1990s, networks of parents have raised, and mobilised around, concerns that MMR has triggered a particular disease in their children linked to autism and bowel problems, and have been supported in this by certain scientists. In the high-profile and highly-public debate which has ensued, they have challenged established perspectives and institutions in both biomedical science, and public health policy. While much policy and public debate has dismissed their concerns as based on emotion, misinformation or “junk science”, this paper locates them as part of a citizen science grounded in parental experience.
It tracks how the framing and strategies of parental mobilisation around MMR have developed, in relation to a growing counter-mobilisation from scientists,