Vaccination: 300 Years of Debate

Vaccination is not free from risks, a focal point for many opponents of vaccination. In the past, infection at the vaccination site could occur. Along with potential health risks, religious and political figures have argued against vaccination from a variety of perspectives. Some advocate for freedom of choice, while others contend that government intervention causes more harm than diseases themselves. Religious works from the eighteenth century to the present day speak to the “evils” of vaccination from the perspectives of fundamentalist groups.