We believe in ‘vaccine choice’, say immunisation doubters

Joe Accurso, a 47-yearold chiropractor, refused to vaccinate his daughter against polio, measles or whooping cough because he believes that getting sick will not be dangerous and may even be good for her.

“I am disappointed that she does not have the opportunity to get chickenpox or diseases that make her body stronger in future. That is our big reason.” Do not call them “anti-vaxxers”. Joe and his wife, Cathy, a physical therapist, see themselves as part of a vocal minority that believes in “vaccine choice”.

These parents — many of whom are white, educated and uppermiddle class — choose not to immunise their children against diseases, which collectively used to kill millions of children per year.

They say these illnesses are not so bad, compared with vaccines, the risks of which they believe are being withheld from the public in the name of pharmaceutical profits — a belief shared by millions across the developed world.

They are also swayed by purported medical whistleblowers, who claim that vaccine-effective- ness data has been skewed, that vaccine injuries are on the rise and dubious ingredients have been concealed.

Fuelled by distrust of the medical establishment, more than seven million people follow various US-based Facebook pages that question vaccines, wrote Richard Stein, a New York University cardiologist, in the journal Germs.

“Conspiracy theories on social media are alive and thriving, rejoicing their golden age,” he said.

Social media may be perpetuating the anti-vaccine movement, said Naomi Smith, an Australian researcher.

She just completed a three-year study on how Facebook created a “filter bubble” around the issue, so vaccine sceptics see their ideas reinforced on pages they follow.

When it comes to convincing hesitant parents to vaccinate their kids, Smith said both sides are at “a total impasse”.

People who hold strong antivaccination beliefs tend to believe personal testimonies, and “use a different standard of evidence than what the medical community uses”, she said.