key: cord-0874502-bfqi7hal authors: Hotez, Peter J. title: COVID19 meets the Antivaccine Movement date: 2020-05-19 journal: Microbes Infect DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2020.05.010 sha: d8822b91d246e5b8df6455049609b814ce14d2c2 doc_id: 874502 cord_uid: bfqi7hal nan The CDC just reported steep declines in the number of American children receiving their routine 11 immunizations. Data from the Vaccines for Children Program (which provides one-half of 12 federally purchased vaccines) and the Vaccine Safety Datalink, find that the US national 13 COVID19 emergency declaration on March 13, 2020 triggered a sudden drop in childhood 14 vaccinations. Within weeks, parents ceased bringing their children in to see their pediatrician 15 or family healthcare provider [1] (Fig 1) . The steepest declines included measles-containing 16 vaccines. 17 We already know that an accelerated antivaccine movement caused the return of measles to Paul Offit, and myself, among others should expect attacks. 72 Will scientists in general become increasingly targeted? The good news is that more than ever 73 before in recent US history the American public is eager to learn from scientists speak about 74 COVID19 in the mainstream media. This increased visibility is making America comfortable with 75 hearing from scientists, and this in itself is essential in combating antiscience movements [21] . 76 However, the protests and their links with extremist groups in camouflage, give us pause to 77 realize that things could also go very wrong. The weeks before the 2020 US Presidential 78 election could become a time of extreme instability in America, especially if COVID19 resurges. 79 Should this happen, poll numbers will drop for many elected leaders. They might react by 80 turning on scientists as a deflection mechanism, possibly with damaging consequences. 81 To mitigate the consequences of a reinvigorated antivaccine movement in America it will be 82 essential for the White House, together with the NIH and other elements of our science 83 infrastructure, to shape a well-crafted vaccine communication plan. They must also designate a 84 trusted spokesperson who can articulate and carry the message. 85 As COVID19 spread in the spring of 2020 my prediction was the American public would 86 recognize the urgency of developing and administering a COVID19 vaccine, causing the 87 antivaccine movement to dissipate. Tragically, the opposite has happened, and there is risk we 88 might see yet again a surge in America's antivaccine movement. Effects of the COVID-93 19 Pandemic on Routine Pediatric Vaccine Ordering and Administration The physician-scientist: defending vaccines and combating antiscience National Update on Measles Cases 98 and Outbreaks -United States How Anti-Vaccine Activists Doomed a Bill in New Jersey The anti-vaccine and anti-lockdown movements are converging, refusing to be 'enslaved Media coverage has blown anti-lockdown protests out of proportion Trump's 'Operation Warp Speed' Aims to Rush Coronavirus Vaccine How fast can biotech come up with a vaccine for the latest outbreak? Stat Vaccine Safety | Vaccine Safety | CDC WHO | Six common misconceptions about immunization Projecting the transmission dynamics of 145 SARS-CoV-2 through the postpandemic period Combating antiscience: Are we preparing for the 2020s?