That hype can prove harmful to scientific dissemination, and sometimes even to people’s health, was shown clearly by an article published in 1998, which suggested a correlation between the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine and some forms of autism.29 It took as long as 12 years for the article, which had been recognised as not just wrong but also fraudulent, to be taken out of circulation.30 By then, however, fear and suspicion had become rooted across broad sectors of the population—and, one surmises, this fact contributed to the suspicion towards vaccines during the recent pandemic.
Meanwhile, risks to the inflation outlook remain broadly balanced for 2019 amid risks of a prolonged El Niño episode and higher-than-expected increases in global oil prices. For 2020, the risks continue to lean toward the downside as weaker global economic activity could temper commodity price pressures.