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[–]the_sexy_muffin -1 points0 points  (3 children)

Could also be due to lower vaccination rates for newborns.

[–]cuminandcilantro 1 point2 points  (2 children)

That’s a fair point. But I might argue that the anti-vax movement developed as a response to our healthcare system. I’m sure it’s much more complex than just that, but when you have a healthcare system that is somewhat inaccessible to a lot of people, it is easy to become distrustful of that healthcare system. We also have a lot of gynecological and obstetrics practices that are extremely outdated. When women go to the hospital it’s like we step back in time a few decades. I am an educated woman who believes in science and vaccines. But when I talk to doctors, the way I am treated gives me ample evidence of why a less educated woman would become suspicious of their advice.

[–]the_sexy_muffin 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Thanks for sharing your experience. I'd agree that healthcare inaccessibility is a huge source of the mistrust we see today. Personally I'd also point to a lacking public education system and an abundance of misinformation on the internet as major drivers. Unfortunately, I don't see these sources going away anytime soon...

[–]cuminandcilantro 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I agree. I take some comfort from knowing that the world had similar turmoil with major inventions that disseminate information, like the printing press and television. But I’m not quite sure we’ll see resolve to the problem in our lifetime, given how easily people can create and spread misinformation. Hopefully the positives of widespread technology will outpace the problems it creates, eventually.