The neoliberal roots of modern vaccine hesitancy
Popular resistance to vaccines is not a new phenomenon and has been widely documented by medical historians. The latest iteration of this resistance, however, is popularly referred to as ‘vaccine hesitancy’ and reflects a host of beliefs and social and institutional influences. While it may be tempt...
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Language: | English |
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Edizioni FS
2019-07-01
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Series: | Journal of Health and Social Sciences |
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Online Access: | https://journalhss.com/wp-content/uploads/jhss42_149-156.pdf |
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author | Chris Sanders Kristin Burnett |
author_facet | Chris Sanders Kristin Burnett |
author_sort | Chris Sanders |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Popular resistance to vaccines is not a new phenomenon and has been widely documented by medical historians. The latest iteration of this resistance, however, is popularly referred to as ‘vaccine hesitancy’ and reflects a host of beliefs and social and institutional influences. While it may be tempting to dismiss the views of those who resist vaccines, immunization policies and practice cannot be devised in isolation from the contemporary political and social landscape. Understanding the socio-political meanings that lay people assign to vaccines and the manner in which they communicate these concerns via media is essential for public health practitioners to consider when formulating immunization policy and education praxis. One such meaning that, to date, has received relatively less attention is the socio-political ideology of neoliberalism. We argue that the undercurrent of neoliberal sensibilities expressed in media stories points to another key social factor that must be considered when seeking public health solutions to the growing vaccine hesitancy movement. |
format | Article |
id | doaj-art-72186a1fd5db41eaa98a9be2f8f02ded |
institution | Kabale University |
issn | 2499-5886 2499-2240 |
language | English |
publishDate | 2019-07-01 |
publisher | Edizioni FS |
record_format | Article |
series | Journal of Health and Social Sciences |
spelling | doaj-art-72186a1fd5db41eaa98a9be2f8f02ded2025-01-18T18:20:31ZengEdizioni FSJournal of Health and Social Sciences2499-58862499-22402019-07-014214915610.19204/2019/thnl4The neoliberal roots of modern vaccine hesitancyChris Sanders0Kristin Burnett1PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Lakehead University, Ontario, CanadaPhD, Associate Professor, Indigenous Studies, Lakehead University, Ontario, CanadaPopular resistance to vaccines is not a new phenomenon and has been widely documented by medical historians. The latest iteration of this resistance, however, is popularly referred to as ‘vaccine hesitancy’ and reflects a host of beliefs and social and institutional influences. While it may be tempting to dismiss the views of those who resist vaccines, immunization policies and practice cannot be devised in isolation from the contemporary political and social landscape. Understanding the socio-political meanings that lay people assign to vaccines and the manner in which they communicate these concerns via media is essential for public health practitioners to consider when formulating immunization policy and education praxis. One such meaning that, to date, has received relatively less attention is the socio-political ideology of neoliberalism. We argue that the undercurrent of neoliberal sensibilities expressed in media stories points to another key social factor that must be considered when seeking public health solutions to the growing vaccine hesitancy movement.https://journalhss.com/wp-content/uploads/jhss42_149-156.pdfAntivaccination movement; neoliberalism; health care; history of medicine; vaccine hesitancy. |
spellingShingle | Chris Sanders Kristin Burnett The neoliberal roots of modern vaccine hesitancy Journal of Health and Social Sciences Antivaccination movement; neoliberalism; health care; history of medicine; vaccine hesitancy. |
title | The neoliberal roots of modern vaccine hesitancy |
title_full | The neoliberal roots of modern vaccine hesitancy |
title_fullStr | The neoliberal roots of modern vaccine hesitancy |
title_full_unstemmed | The neoliberal roots of modern vaccine hesitancy |
title_short | The neoliberal roots of modern vaccine hesitancy |
title_sort | neoliberal roots of modern vaccine hesitancy |
topic | Antivaccination movement; neoliberalism; health care; history of medicine; vaccine hesitancy. |
url | https://journalhss.com/wp-content/uploads/jhss42_149-156.pdf |
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