Government and medical bodies routinely suggest that those choosing not to vaccinate are a fringe minority who take delight in frightening the community with extreme and unfounded claims. Ironically, it is the same establishments that have conducted their own surveys into the reasons why some do not vaccinate and concluded the following:

"In general, such parents tend to be well educated, older, female and of Anglo-Saxon background. Qualitative data suggest that conscientious objectors fear possible but unknown, especially long term, adverse effects of vaccines, believe that lifestyle measures to improve general immunity are viable alternatives to protection from vaccines, and often mistrust the motives of healthcare providers. This limits the ability of healthcare professionals to present pertinent counterarguments. Indeed, there is some evidence that parents philosophically opposed to vaccination may have their objections reinforced by factual information about risks and benefits, because these facts do not accord with their beliefs about health and illness".

For more read Australian Government booklet: Childhood immunisation : the role of parents and service providers : a review of the literature (P. Bazeley & L. Kemp)

"Except for a few highly educated mothers who make a deliberate decision not to vaccinate, most people do not make decisions about health purely on the scientific evidence. Decision making is complex. Focus group studies in western Sydney suggested that parental reactions to children's immediate distress are stronger than their feelings about later benefits from vaccination. It was proposed that this can be countered by strong commitments to vaccination, strong social support, and depictions of children suffering from diseases (for example, television advertisements of children with pertussis). In our society childhood vaccination is a cultural truism ('what every good mother does for her child') which many accept automatically, without thinking through the issues." Read full report...

There are many sites throughout the world dedicated to questioning and investigating the practice of vaccination.

Australia

New Zealand

United Kingdom

United States

Canada

Europe


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