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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Main Authors: Chris Sanders, Kristin Burnett
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Edizioni FS 2019-07-01
Series:Journal of Health and Social Sciences
Subjects:
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.
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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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