Raucesti, Romania – August 4, 2025
In the quiet villages of northeastern Romania, epidemiologist Daniela Gafita walks house to house with a clear mission: to convince hesitant parents that vaccinating their children is not only safe — but vital.
But it’s far from easy.
Despite mounting measles cases across Europe, and Romania bearing the brunt of it, many parents remain deeply skeptical. Last year alone, the country reported over 13,000 measles cases, making up the bulk of the approximately 18,000 infections recorded in the European Economic Area between June 2024 and May 2025.
And Romania isn’t alone in this struggle. Measles a disease once thought under control — is staging a dangerous comeback globally. The United States, for example, is facing its worst outbreak in three decades, with vaccine misinformation still lingering from the COVID-19 era.
For Gafita and her team, the resistance they face is both emotional and deeply rooted. “We’re trying to gradually rebuild the trust we lost over the years,” says the 52-year-old health worker, her voice a mix of determination and fatigue.
Currently, Romania has the lowest vaccination rate in the European Union — just 62%, well below the 95% threshold recommended by the World Health Organization to prevent the spread of highly contagious diseases like measles.
Fear and Misinformation
One of the hurdles is persistent misinformation linking vaccines to autism — a claim long debunked by scientists but still widely believed. In Raucesti, a village of 7,500 people, mothers quietly share concerns.
“I’ve read online that the vaccine could cause autism,” says Elena Armenia, a 34-year-old mother. “I can’t shake the fear. It’s stuck in my mind.”
Her doubts, however, came with consequences. Several children in her neighborhood recently ended up hospitalized with measles a disease known for fever and rashes, but one that can also cause pneumonia, brain inflammation, and in severe cases, death. Romania has already reported eight measles-related deaths in the past year.
Family doctor Monica Apostol says that convincing parents like Armenia is an uphill battle. “I try to explain, I try again — but often, it’s like talking to a wall,” she says, her frustration evident.
Beyond Misinformation: A System Under Strain
Romania’s vaccine crisis is compounded by decades of systemic challenges. After the fall of communism in 1989, the country witnessed a mass exodus of healthcare professionals. Chronic underfunding and periodic vaccine shortages have only deepened the healthcare system’s vulnerabilities.
Public trust, too, has eroded. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Romanian public figures — mirroring trends abroad amplified anti-vaccine rhetoric. The situation was further inflamed when U.S. President Donald Trump controversially appointed Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known vaccine skeptic, as health secretary.
At home, far-right parties have seized on pandemic-era frustration. George Simion, Romania’s far-right presidential candidate who won the first round of the May election, openly championed parental choice in vaccination a stance that resonated with many.
“We are up against misinformation campaigns that are highly strategic,” warns Gindrovel Dumitra, a national coordinator for vaccinations.
Even Romania’s pro-European President Nicusor Dan has taken notice, urging the government to “regain public trust” and push back against the flood of disinformation.
A Call for Action
For Gafita, the current outbreak is a wake-up call. She believes it’s time for Romania to consider stricter vaccine policies, even if they’re controversial. One potential step? Making vaccines mandatory for school enrollment.
“I know such measures aren’t popular,” she admits. “But when the health of children is at stake, we must act even when it’s hard.”
