Don't ditch the dose

While anti-vaxxers are increasing in the West, experts share why Indians shouldn’t follow suite

- Sapna Sarfare

Medical advances have saved millions of lives. Vaccines are one of the most important tools we have to fight deadly diseases. However, in the West, especially in the US, more people are refusing vaccines because they believe they cause health problems. This trend is worrying, and it’s important for India to understand why we should not follow this example if we want to keep our country healthy.

Western Issue

Dr Vibhor Borkar, Director, Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Transplant Medicine, Gleneagles Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, calls the rise of Western anti-vaxxers a complex issue. “Their vaccination programs have been so successful for so long that most young parents have never seen a case of polio, measles, diphtheria, or tetanus. When a disease is invisible, the fear of the disease fades, and the perceived risk of the vaccine itself can feel larger than the risk of the illness. The diseases against which the vaccines are produced either have high mortality or leave a lifelong disability. Another issue is misinformation and the digital age. A single, emotionally charged story linking a vaccine to a health issue can spread faster than facts.”

Dr Zinal Unadkat Shah, Lactation Consultant and Paediatrician, also considers the low perceived risk as one of the reasons behind the rise. “There is also the pandemic fallout and changing rules. COVID-19 vaccine debates, evolving guidance, and targeted anti-vaccine campaigns have increased general hesitancy toward routine childhood vaccines as well.”

Impact in India