EHPE Cluster Seminar: Andreas Link - The Historical Roots of Vaccine Hesitancy: The Persistent Effect of the Naturopathic Movement in Germany

Event details

Author:  Andreas Link (Erlangen-Nürnberg)

Title: The Historical Roots of Vaccine Hesitancy: The Persistent Effect of the Naturopathic Movement in Germany

Abstract: This paper examines the historical roots of vaccine hesitancy in Germany. Drawing on digitized data from the year 1900 on the strength of the naturopathic movement – the largest movement critical of medicine, including vaccinations, at that time – we show that counties with a higher number of such associations in 1900 have significantly lower vaccination rates today. In terms of underlying mechanisms, we show that the movement changed the way health care is provided and we present evidence indicating that it affected the intergenerational transmission of norms.

Host: Matthias Flueckiger (York)

Cluster: Economic History and Political Economy (EHPE) Cluster Seminar