Scaremongering, threats and misinformation

The anti-vaccine campaign being waged across the world has the potential to cause huge damage.

Misinformation, scaremongering, threats and abuse are trademarks of anti-vaxxers the world over. They do not seek calm and collected discussion, they are hell-bent on scaring people into submission, preying on ignorance and ignoring facts.

In the UK, there has been outrage at the cynical targeting of schools, school staff and students, with intimidating protests outside school gates and even reports of death threats being received by school leaders.

The anger directed at schools comes in opposition to the 12–15-year-old vaccination programme, which is being rolled out this term. Yet the programme is entirely voluntary. Parents must give their consent (or in rare cases of disagreement between parents and child, Gillick competency be established). Schools are not ‘promoting’ the vaccination, they are simply hosting the School Age Immunisation Service (SAIS). By targeting schools, many anti-vaxxers show just how ignorant they are – believing headteachers to be legally liable or claiming that forced vaccinations are taking place.