I vaccinate. I will say that sometimes it's hard seeing the kids get lots of shots, as babies, all at once. I mean, four shots at once? It's pretty harsh. I think the doctors should consider spacing it out more, though I see your point about how many parents don't come back. Maybe they could consider doing the most important vaccinations first. Or at least doing so for parents who promptly come to the first couple of appointments.
In general, though, I think the non-vax attitude comes from privilege (much like the pro-life attitude). Vaccination has given us a low-disease society. People today haven't seen what polio, mumps, measles etc are really like. I think there is a certain good feeling that comes from ignoring the advice of the Medical Establishment... a feeling of rebellion, or a feeling of Knowing Better. When they don't really believe their kids will get these diseases, people indulge those feelings.
I personally look at it this way: I don't want my kid to get polio. Therefore, I vaccinate.
In regards to how to convince people not to vaccinate, I would probably not try to awaken their sense of community purpose (most people will happily give the finger to community health if it furthers their immediate desires - see the tragedy of the commons). I would probably try to awaken their sense of potential consequences of rejecting vaccination. Something like "a lot of people are choosing not to vax, and that's opening up a potential for these diseases to come back. It only takes one person going abroad and getting polio for that disease to come over here. And if that happens, your kid would not be protected in any way. Here are the potential consequences..." That is 100% true. Play up kid vulnerability to a real disease. That's probably how I'd spin it, anyway. You might also hand out copies of that salon article I cited above if autism is their concern.
In general, though, I think the non-vax attitude comes from privilege (much like the pro-life attitude). Vaccination has given us a low-disease society. People today haven't seen what polio, mumps, measles etc are really like. I think there is a certain good feeling that comes from ignoring the advice of the Medical Establishment... a feeling of rebellion, or a feeling of Knowing Better. When they don't really believe their kids will get these diseases, people indulge those feelings.
I personally look at it this way: I don't want my kid to get polio. Therefore, I vaccinate.
In regards to how to convince people not to vaccinate, I would probably not try to awaken their sense of community purpose (most people will happily give the finger to community health if it furthers their immediate desires - see the tragedy of the commons). I would probably try to awaken their sense of potential consequences of rejecting vaccination. Something like "a lot of people are choosing not to vax, and that's opening up a potential for these diseases to come back. It only takes one person going abroad and getting polio for that disease to come over here. And if that happens, your kid would not be protected in any way. Here are the potential consequences..." That is 100% true. Play up kid vulnerability to a real disease. That's probably how I'd spin it, anyway. You might also hand out copies of that salon article I cited above if autism is their concern.
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