When Vaccines Don’t Seem to Work: My Measles Experience

I have listened to and read about several arguments against vaccines. Initially, I thought many of these arguments were simply dumb and reeked of a lack of education. With time, however, I started seeing the plausibility of some (not all. Some are still very dumb) of the arguments.

Although many of the arguments against vaccines sound like conspiracy theories, recent events with the release of the Epstein files kind of hint that the so-called conspiracy theories may not be conspiracy theories after all. You know what they say, that there's no smoke without fire.

Today, my own issue is with the measles vaccine. I have 3 kids, and all the 3 of them were vaccinated. We never missed any vaccine appointment. I made it a point of duty to personally convey them to and from whenever vaccine appointments come up. These include the BCG vaccine, measles/rubella vaccines, polio vaccines, etc.

The first time it happened, I thought it was just one of those unusual things that happen in nature. However, when my 2nd and 3rd child came down with measles, even when they're vaccinated against the disease, I began to wonder if indeed these vaccines actually work as intended.

I looked up the possible reasons the vaccine didn't work, not once, not twice, but thrice. Also, I happen not to be the only one. This is the experience of several people around me as well. To explore the possible reasons the vaccine failed to work as intended, one must first understand how the measles vaccine came into being.

The measles vaccine is made using a live attenuated virus, meaning the virus is weakened but still alive. Scientists reduce its strength so it cannot cause disease in healthy people. The virus is then grown in special cell cultures, often from chicken embryo cells, under strict laboratory conditions.

After growth, it is purified and prepared into doses. When injected, the body’s immune system recognizes the weakened virus and produces antibodies. This creates immunity, so if the real measles virus enters later, the body quickly destroys it, preventing illness and spread.

Apparently, I've been thinking about the measles vaccine as a 100% prophylactic against measles. I was wrong. I got to know that a vaccine is not a magic shield; it is more like a training session for the immune system. And like every training, results can vary. The measles vaccine is highly effective, but not perfect.

After one dose, about 93% of people develop immunity. After the second dose, that rises to about 97%. That still leaves a small percentage of people who may not develop full protection. So yes, a vaccinated child can still get measles, but the chances are significantly lower, and when they do, the illness is usually milder and less dangerous.

I got to understand that sometimes, the child’s immune system simply doesn’t respond strongly enough. This situation is known as primary vaccine failure. Other times, immunity may weaken over time, though this is less common with measles.

Storage and handling also matter. Vaccines must be kept at specific temperatures; if the cold chain is broken at any point from production to the clinic, the effectiveness can drop. Knowing the anyhowness of Nigerians, this sounds like a strong factor that could have impacted the effectiveness of the vaccine. I mean, one or two cases could have been excused, but not the number of cases I've personally witnessed.

There’s also the issue of timing. If a child receives the vaccine too early, especially when maternal antibodies are still present, those antibodies can interfere with how well the vaccine works. Since we took the vaccines at the appointed time, I don't think this should be the case with my children.

Another factor many people overlook is exposure level. Not all encounters with a virus are equal. A child exposed to a very high viral load during an outbreak in a crowded setting might still get infected despite being vaccinated. But again, the vaccine often turns what could have been a severe case into something much more manageable.

Now, does this mean the concerns people raise should be dismissed? Not at all. Questions are valid. Experiences like mine and those of others are real. But they need to be interpreted correctly. A few breakthrough cases do not mean the vaccine is useless; they actually highlight how biology works in probabilities, not guarantees.

If anything, these experiences should push us toward better awareness, not outright rejection. Are vaccines stored properly? Are schedules followed correctly? Are booster doses given when required? These are the questions that matter more than assuming the entire system is flawed.

So where do I stand now?

Not in blind trust, and definitely not in blind rejection either.

Somewhere in the middle, where questions are asked, evidence is considered, and decisions are made with both caution and clarity.