Should I get my kids vaccinated or not? This has always been a discussion in countries all over the world. Just recently, the debate on vaccination has been reheated. According to Reuters there has been a rising in outbreaks of measles in the EU this fall – the highest number for seven years.
Experts claim that there might be a link to low levels of public confidence in vaccines causing parents not to vaccinate their children. They say that a rising influence of anti-vaccine groups that spread misleading information through the internet is to blame partly for this.
#vaccination
Let’s have a look at what the Twitter community says about this topic. Vaccination proponents and anti-vaxxers both use the hashtag #vaccination, but have contradictory opinions on the subject.
#Measles outbreak raging in Europe could be headed to North America https://t.co/uF7QHmHy2v via @nbcnews @HealthWatch123 #antivax #vaccination
— André Picard (@picardonhealth) October 21, 2018
Like this user, many people on Twitter raise awareness of the recent measles outbreak by sharing news articles.
Did you know that in 2016 (source: @WHO) Approximately 89,780 people died from measles – mostly children under the age of 5 years, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine? #vaccination #Israel
— Michele Chabin (@MicheleChabin1) November 2, 2018
Others use figures to highlight the importance of vaccinations.
'Herd Immunity' can never be achieved through #vaccination because #vaccines don't work for everyone and wear off. Real #immunity is only obtained through contracting #natural infection and conquering it. #BigPharma and government aren't keen on #logic. https://t.co/bGWUaGO2WS
— A Voice For Choice (@avoiceforchoice) November 11, 2018
However, there are also some people on Twitter who are against vaccinations. As can be seen on this tweet, some of them don’t believe in herd immunity or criticize the pharmaceutical industry and the government.
On the other hand, this user refers to a tragical case, where vaccinations leading to herd immunity could have prevented a death.
Here we start to see the terrible implications of failure to vaccinate. Herd immunity works. This is such a sad story when it was all preventable #VaccinesWork #vaccination #nhs #mmr #measles https://t.co/UmvnSfdf1G
— Dr Jeff foster (@doctor_jef) November 12, 2018
Other anti-vaxxers argue with the risk of permanent brain damages caused by vaccinations. Moreover, they speak out against mandatory vaccination.
SEVERE CHEMICAL DAMAGE FROM #VACCINATION@StandWithWeston #NotBornWithIt#LearnTheRisk#MyChildMyChoice#VaccinesCauseHarm#VaccineInducedBrainInjury#NotOneMore#StopMandatoryVaccination@POTUS @VP @FLOTUS#SaveTheChildren#ParentalRights#HealthFreedomhttps://t.co/OXgSkYVXmw
— Heidi ~ Healing Children Naturally (@ThisMomHCN) July 19, 2018
This supporter opposes this fact by stating that there is no causality between vaccinations and brain damages.
Again, the proof of "brain damage" from #vaccine is lacking. There is no lie that you've proven. We know measles disease causes encephalitis. #vaccine induced encephalitis is so rare we can't establish causality. Common sense dictates #vaccination is the way to go. pic.twitter.com/yRe4sTkY5y
— Eve Switzer MD, FAAP (@kidoctr) July 8, 2018
After all, it should be up to everyone to decide whether to vaccinate their children or not. The fact is, however, that a lot of false information about vaccinations is spread online. Since social media can have great impact on our opinion building process, this should make everybody cautious.