The Consequences of Anti-Vaccination Movement Propaganda

Undeniably, vaccines are one of the greatest inventions in the history of medicine. Even health and medical students agree that vaccination is one of the milestones that public health achieved in the 20th century. Nonetheless, vaccination has attracted opposition since Edward Jenner introduced it. The critics have taken different positions. One faction denies the direct connection between vaccines and the elimination of substantial reduction of diseases like smallpox, polio, and measles among others. The other side of opposition argues that vaccines cause diseases. They cast aspersions on the safety and efficacy of vaccines. The impact of anti-vaccination movement has been the emergence of contentious debates that stir up mistrusts about vaccines, a decline in the immunization rates of children, and the subsequent reemergence of infectious diseases.

The propaganda being spread by the anti-vaccination movements about vaccination and immunization particularly given to children have led to highly contentious issues that create fear in parents. The anti-vaccination movements’ rationale for rejecting the validity of vaccines as backed by scientific evidence are varied and complex. Their primary mission is dedicated to questioning or refusing vaccination using mainstream media and the internet. The internet is the most influential medium for the parent’s beliefs concerning immunization. A majority of the information posted on those websites are inaccurate and deceptive (Gander, 2017). The arguments claim that vaccines weaken the body’s immunity, cause diseases of unknown origins and contain poisons (Ołpiński, 2012). The widespread misinformation and falsehoods written on those websites have caused most parents to shift to alternative medicine such as homeopathy, which is perceived to be more superior to vaccination. Much distrust has met the frantic efforts of the medics to push for vaccines. The matter is made worse because people advocating against vaccines feel that the mainstream science and media ignore them. Just like any responsible parent, they are making every effort to protect their children from what they perceive as a grave danger to their health.

The rates of infant immunizationhave declined leading to the outbreaks of contagious diseases. Whereas vaccination coverage is generally good, the anti-vaccination movements have misled many people to adopt non-medical exemptions of vaccines based on personal and religious beliefs (Ołpiński, 2012). Some parents believe that a healthy lifestyle is sufficient to keep the immune system and fight off diseases. Also, the fear caused by Wakefield et al. (1998) findings that MMR vaccine is linked to autism had caused some parents to refuse to take their children to receive immunizations. This publication has however been retracted. Instead of fearing about the deadly diseases, many people now the fear some imaginary side effects of vaccination. Parents are continuously being misled by the celebrities, media, and politicians. Consequently, some of the parents do not trust the doctors. Consequently, after failing to heed to the doctors' persuasion to vaccinate their children, some doctors refuse to attend to the parents and their children.

Moreover, despite the improving levels of vaccination, the effects of the anti-vaccination movements demonstrate that vaccine-preventable diseases can still occur. With the falling rates of vaccination, it is relatively easy for highly infectious diseases such as diphtheria and measles to re-establish. For, example, in 2012 and 2013 the United Kingdom experienced a significant outbreak of measles. This outbreak was as a result of a decline in the rates of MMR vaccination in the early 2000s (Gander, 2017). The leading cause for the decrease is associated with perceived vaccine safety concerns and fewer benefits. Parents are particularly more concerned with the safety of newer vaccines.

In summary, the anti-vaccination movements exacerbate the fear about vaccines using the internet, politicians, and celebrities. The fears they propagate result into more parents refusing to immunize their children. This trend is worrisome to public health since it abets the reemergence of the immunizable diseases.