a history of vaccines and anti-vaxxers: myth vs reality

Traces the history of anti-vaxxers, from 19th-century opposition to Edward Jenner’s smallpox vaccine to modern-day vaccine hesitancy and misinformation.

Retired drug regulator and medical historian Anthony C. Cartwright tells the story of the anti-vaxxers, starting with objections by ’Anti-Vacks’ to Edward Jenner’s smallpox vaccine in the early 19th century, and then a propaganda war waged by the Anti-Compulsory Vaccination League and its successor from 1853 to 1972. There was political lobbying and demonstrations across Britain against compulsory smallpox vaccination for children. Parents who refused to have their children treated were fined and even went to prison. The campaign spread to America and there were links to many countries. The popular appeal of anti-vaxxer views is reviewed in a new analysis and linked to libertarian objections to compulsion and fears of vaccine safety for their children. The early anti-vax leaders were germ theory deniers, and believers in alternative medicine.

Using his regulatory expertise to review issues of historic safety, quality and efficacy of vaccines, major questions about later vaccines such as an early polio vaccine actually increasing polio deaths, infant deaths in Lübeck from a TB contaminated BCG vaccine, and reports linking neurological reactions to Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis (DTP) vaccine are considered. These caused reluctance to vaccinate.

Andrew Wakefield’s fraudulent 1998 scientific paper linking MMR vaccine to autism fuelled the fire for the anti-vaxxers and caused an epidemic of measles cases in children. Although modern Covid-19 vaccines were thoroughly tested for safety and efficacy, anti-vaccine sentiment came to a head again. Demonstrators marched in cities round the world carrying signs protesting government policies, and this book looks at the websites which proliferated on the Internet, bearing false witness about dangers.

Lessons can be learned from history to mitigate vaccine hesitancy and mistrust, and to ensure all ethnic groups and sections of society receive the healthcare they deserve.