Understanding the reasons behind people’s hesitations about vaccines can help public health advocates develop more inclusive healthcare strategies.
Published on July 27, 2026, at 10:09 p.m. EDT
By Katherine Shwetz, The Conversation
The Conversation is an independent nonprofit news organization providing readers with facts and analysis from researchers and scientists, aiding in understanding the complex world.
Vaccine skepticism has existed as long as vaccines have. In 19th-century England, there were riots protesting a mandatory smallpox vaccine. Opponents argued that it infringed on civil rights and violated the integrity of the human body. The skepticism was not limited to England. In the United States, resistance to vaccination took form with organizations like the Anti-Compulsory Vaccination League of Brooklyn, founded in 1894.
Leave a Reply