Recognizing the stories behind people’s concerns with vaccines can help public health advocates build a more inclusive approach to healthcare.
As long as vaccines have existed, skepticism about their science and safety has persisted. In 19th-century England, mandatory smallpox vaccination sparked riots. People argued that these measures infringed on civil rights and violated personal integrity. Similarly, in the United States, resistance has a long history. The Anti-Compulsory Vaccination League of Brooklyn, founded in 1894, exemplified organized opposition to vaccines.
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