Nowadays, we are living in an age of technology, development, and international connectivity. With the ability to quickly deliver and receive information, the possibilities for people to get to know the world around them has become almost limitless. This trend however, does present a significant problem for distinguishing truth from reality. With a variety of sources available to support all kinds of viewpoints, it becomes increasingly difficult for the everyday people to distinguish truth from reality. The changes in the way people come across knowledge become dangerous not only for individuals, but entire populations when the misinformation concerns issues of vaccination and healthcare. Recently, we have seen a rise in the anti-vaxx movement, fueled by a mix of anxieties, misconceptions, and conspiracies. An article discussing anti-vaccination trends of the recent years called “Anti-vaxxers are taking populism to a new, deadly level”. The author relates that skepticism about vaccinations has led to direct violence and loss in some parts of the world, prompting shootings and killings from extremist groups (Hinsliff). In the same vein, west is noted to have been suffering from the emerging anti-vaccination trend resulting in the reduction of herd immunity and the re-emergence of commonly eradicated diseases. With far-right and extremist conspiracies promoting skepticism towards authority, more and more parents are doubting the expertise of healthcare professionals. Feeding on the distrust of authorities many people harbor, destructive and unsubstantiated beliefs spread among the population.
My perspective on the article is wholly positive, as I agree with the messages and concerns put forth by the author. Personally, I think that the popularity of the anti-vaxx movement is very concerning, as it endangers the health and wellbeing of large number of people. With the recent Covid-19 pandemic, the need to adhere to specific regulations is more important than ever, as the virus can easily spread to unprotected people. To safeguard those that do not have the ability to protect themselves, it is crucial for all members of the community to come together in keeping with the medical regulations and standards set forth. As someone that has vulnerable individuals as part of their family, I am used to taking safety considerations with utmost caution and consideration. This effort, however, becomes much harder when a significant number of the population is convinced of the vaccination’s danger or ineffectiveness. It is personally baffling and tiring to see how many people can lack basic consideration of others to stick to their false ideas. In the face of a complicated issue, however, it is useless to blame individuals or approach the issue on a personal level. With certain groups of people trying to push dangerous agendas under the guise of questioning authority, it is important to approach the issue from a constructive and overarching standpoint, and find possible ways of resolving it as a whole. I think that the involvement of conspiratorial beliefs mentioned in the article is extremely abrasive to change, and finding possible ways of remedying that can be difficult. I, however, wholly agree that the issue should be taken seriously, with more time being spent at uprooting its main cause and combatting it.
Reference
Hinsliff, Gaby. “Anti-vaxxers Are Taking Populism to a New, Deadly Level.” The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 2019. Web.