With this pandemic, the difficult balance between science and politics has once again become evident. The population’s distrust has increased and has given arguments to the anti-vaccine camp. Although, it is also true that they need very little to build their ideology. Just look at how they have been making fools of themselves every time one of these medicines has appeared. Since there have been vaccines, there have been anti-vaxxers. And although it’s hard to believe, we are now better off than in previous pandemics, because despite a lot of nonsense being spread, the population has more information than ever to understand how vaccination works.
Anti-vaxxers back in 18th century
The first opposition movements were born in the UK because that is where Edward Jenner started the fight against smallpox in 1798. It is logical that in the beginning many people doubted its effectiveness. Never before had such a system been used to prevent disease. Those opposed to it’s use said that in reality the only thing it did was to make the person who used the vaccination sick . However, there were also surreal rumours, such as that those who were vaccinated would grow horns.
The religious argument also carried weight. The repertoire was diverse. From claims that it was the idea of Satan himself to those who branded the vaccine as anti-Christian, because it introduced animal remains into the human body. At this point in 2021, now that we have all ended up doing a kind crash course in epidemiology, we know that infectious diseases are rife wherever there are more people. And of course, in the cities of the 19th century, with the Industrial Revolution in full swing and the working classes living in subhuman conditions, the environment was ripe for all kinds of health crises. Faced with this challenge, the authorities launched compulsory vaccination campaigns , but there were those who automatically objected.
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