Religious Anti-Vaccine

When I was growing up, it seemed that the majority of those who rejected vaccines were New Age/Alternatives to Medicine proponents. Today, the media seems to be focusing on particular religious communities. The following are links addressing the religious objections to vaccines, and there are patterns.

• What the world's religions teach about immunization: "In multiple cases, ostensibly religious reasons to decline immunization actually reflected concerns about vaccine safety or personal beliefs among a social network of people organized around a faith community, rather than theologically based objections per se." (link)

• "No major religions prohibit vaccinations, and some consider it an obligation because of the potential to save lives. Many religions, however, provide that each individual has the right to decide whether or not to use vaccines according to his or her own moral conscience.[1] Regardless, some parents either fake religious adherence[2] or invent fake religions to provide exemption.[3]" (Link)

• North America was the only high-income region where people who follow a religion were much more likely to say they side with that belief system over science whenever disagreements arise. That finding was driven primarily by the US, where measles has been spreading among religious communities in states that have allowed religious vaccine exemptions: “'There are hugely important lessons to be learned about how to bring religious groups in who may be skeptical or may really question the value of science,' he added. 'But without them, you can see outbreaks [of vaccine-preventable diseases] will continue to happen.'” (Link)

• A look at what is happening, and why, within Catholicism. (Link)

Here are some educational materials against concerns over vaccines that may be helpful. (Link)