The medical profession and vaccine criticism in the early 20th century

What is it about?

Organised anti-vaccination movements first emerged when smallpox vaccination became compulsory in most European countries in the 19th century. In general, these movements were formed by lay people. However, this chapter examines vaccine criticism within the medical profession through the case study of the Finnish physician E. W. Lybeck. By analysing how his criticism of vaccination was received by the Finnish medical community in the early 20th century, the chapter explores what kind of criticism and uncertainty about vaccination was allowed within the confines of the medical profession.

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Photo by Raghavendra V. Konkathi on Unsplash

Photo by Raghavendra V. Konkathi on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The issue of vaccine scepticism has recently stepped to the fore of Western social debate with the Covid-19 pandemic. This has increased scholarly interest in the history of vaccine controversies, but the sceptical or critical attitudes of the medical profession towards vaccination have remained a less studied topic.