Quick Links #5: Mandatory vaccination and punishment – reasons to resist

Below you'll find a brief list of just some of the polio communication resources related to mandatory vaccination and punishment from The Communication Initiative for Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Hi Everyone,

As refusals and hesitancy grow it can be easy to think that punishing those who refuse and making vaccination mandatory will turn things around and get vaccination levels back on track.  However, research shows the opposite is often the case as the public pushes back, negative stories gain credence and pro-vaccination messages are rejected by more people.  This Quick Links provides a teaser to some of the content in an upcoming edition of The Drum Beat titled Post-Crisis Communication: The Case of Polio and Vaccines which will be coming out later in June.  If you haven’t subscribed to The Drum Beat you can do so at this link.

Mandatory Infant & Childhood Immunization: Rationales, Issues and Knowledge Gaps

This article presents an overview of mandatory immunisation, from three countries two high- and one low-income.  It illustrates variations between different country contexts and suggests things to consider when contemplating mandatory infant and/or child immunisation. Among other issues, the authors examine evidence of unintended consequences. For example, in Serbia, the government responded to the decline in measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) immunisation and the 2014/2015 outbreak of measles with substantial tightening of mandatory immunisation and harsher penalties.  Response to the tightened law heightened anti-vaccine sentiment and enhanced attention to negative vaccination messages in the media.  The existing vaccine uptake problem already a reflection of low confidence in the programme, was further undermined by the new harsher penalties.

Outbreak of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in Muslim Majority Countries

The increase in Muslim parents' refusal and hesitancy to accept childhood vaccination has been identified as one of the contributing factors to the increase of vaccine-preventable disease (VPD) cases in countries such as Afghanistan, Malaysia, and Pakistan. Targeted inaccurate and irresponsible information is being spread by the anti-vaccination movement, such as claims that have gone viral on social media that vaccines are a plot to weaken Muslims.  Authorities in some countries have resorted to imposing strict punishments on parents who refuse to allow their children to be vaccinated.  However, the authors stress that "mandatory vaccination and punishment are ineffective in encouraging parents to vaccinate their children without extensive public education."

Imposing Penalties for Vaccine Rejection Requires Strong Scrutiny

Australia and other countries have considered or implemented policies that ramp up the penalties for rejection of vaccination. As Australia evaluates its "No Jab, No Pay" policy, which withholds child benefits from parents who do not vaccinate their children, and as other countries consider implementing similar measures, this article examines the evidence base and effectiveness of penalties to address vaccine rejection through the lens of ethical principles relevant to public health immunisation programmes.  The author concludes that ‘an evidence-based approach to under-vaccination involves comprehensive, multifactorial approaches. Regulatory approaches to vaccine rejection should be firm but fair, enabling hard-to-reach exemptions that promote engagement, not alienation from the health system’.

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Cheers

Chris

For more information see:

CI Polio Network

GPEI Resources

UNICEFs Rhizome C4D site

A note on Quick Links: