Specialties & Diseases > Infectious Disease

Calling all veteran docs: Measles opinions wanted

By MDLinx staff

Published April 15, 2025

Key Takeaways

Industry Buzz

“What say you, medical professionals? Are the ‘well-documented health benefits’ of measles infection worth it? Would you recommend it to your patients?” — Eric Burnett, MD, internist
“I’m a 50-year-old pediatrician, and I’ve never seen a case of measles. But, reading about the death and disability that it causes should be enough for anyone to not want it. Why do some people have to experience suffering personally to understand it? What happened to learning from the past or from the experiences of others? It’s so disheartening that we are where we are as a country.” — Instagram user @pamudomknits

In a recent Instagram post, Eric Burnett, MD, challenges the notion of "well-documented health benefits" associated with measles infection. The post questions whether these purported benefits justify the risks of contracting measles, a disease known for its potential complications.

“What say you, medical professionals? Are the ‘well-documented health benefits’ of measles infection worth it? Would you recommend it to your patients?” Dr. Burnett writes in his caption.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that can lead to serious health issues, including pneumonia, encephalitis, and even death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasizes that vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles and its associated complications. ^[]

The claim of health benefits from measles infection has been a topic of debate, particularly among anti-vaccination groups. However, the overwhelming consensus in the medical community supports vaccination as a safe and critical measure for public health.

For instance, one Instagram user commented: “I’m a 50-year-old pediatrician, and I’ve never seen a case of measles. But, reading about the death and disability that it causes should be enough for anyone to not want it. Why do some people have to experience suffering personally to understand it? What happened to learning from the past or from the experiences of others? It’s so disheartening that we are where we are as a country.”

But behind the positive conversation in Dr. Burnett’s comments section, something deeper is brewing—a generational divide in how doctors approach vaccine discourse, patient trust, and even social media engagement.

Older physicians: “We saw what measles really looked like”

Many older physicians vividly remember the pre-vaccine era. For them, the idea of anyone downplaying measles borders on absurd.

“I’m a 75-year-old retired physician who had measles in my youth, barely surviving the encephalitis,” another veteran doctor commented. “Having said that, no one should be forced, yet all should be educated. Why would any parent not want to protect their most precious possession: their children! It’s not logical. Vaccines work.”

For these doctors, the call to return to “natural” immunity feels not just irresponsible, but revisionist.

Younger doctors: Fighting misinformation in a digital age

Meanwhile, younger physicians are fighting a different battle: misinformation that spreads faster than any virus ever could. They’ve grown up navigating vaccine hesitancy online and confronting patients emboldened by social media influencers and rogue “health” accounts.

Some express frustration with older people who resist the opinions of those younger than them. “Just another off-putting young doctor here! I recently was told by a realtor from South Carolina that I look 13 and should shut my mouth. I think they’re just jealous of our skin care and reasonable ideas,” another doctor commented.

Generational tension or just different toolkits?

The divide isn’t about vaccine efficacy—both groups agree measles is dangerous and preventable. But how physicians talk about the virus, who they see as the problem, and how they choose to engage patients and the public reveals deeper rifts in the profession.

Are we seeing a clash of clinical eras? Or is it just a difference in tactics between those who lived through measles outbreaks and those raised on herd immunity?

One thing’s clear: As misinformation about diseases like measles resurfaces, doctors of all generations will need to find common ground—before the next outbreak forces them to.