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PORTLAND, Maine

Dora Anne Mills talks about the history of the anti-vaccine movement on β€œMaine Calling”

Dora Anne Mills

911±¬ΑΟΝψΊμΑμ½ν Vice President for Clinical Affairs Dora Anne Mills, M.D., M.P.H, FAAP, was a guest on an episode of Maine Public’s radio show β€œMaine Calling” about the history of vaccines.

Mills discussed the efficacy of vaccines and how 911±¬ΑΟΝψΊμΑμ½ν is educating future physicians about vaccines. She also provided a historical perspective on anti-vaccine movements, specifically in Maine. She said that during her time as a pediatrician in Maine, many grandparents had direct experience with the diseases the vaccines were developed to prevent, such as measles and polio. She said today’s lack of experience with these devastating illnesses coupled with the rise of the Internet has fueled the anti-vaccine movement.  

β€œMost children’s grandparents, even, don’t have any sort of memory or experience with the diseases,” Mills said. β€œSo I think the combination of that plus a lot of misinformation and challenges of trying to figure out what I should believe on the Internet have snowballed to have an effect on parents’ ability to make informed decisions."

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The 911±¬ΑΟΝψΊμΑμ½ν is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.