Antivaccination

/ˌæntiˌvæksɪˈneɪʃən/ adjective

Definition

Opposed to vaccination; against the practice of giving vaccines to prevent diseases.

Etymology

From anti- (against) + vaccination (from Latin vacca, cow, referencing the original cowpox vaccine used by Jenner). Term emerged after vaccination became widespread in the 1800s.

Kelly Says

The first antivaccination movement started in the 1870s when people feared vaccines caused harm—today's vaccine debates echo 150-year-old concerns, showing how medical controversies can persist despite scientific evidence.

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