"Needling Doubts": Maternalism, Neo-liberalism and Intensive Parenting as the Roots of Vaccine Hesitancy in English-speaking Canada, 1980–2007.

This article examines the development and characteristics of the anti-vaccination movement in English-speaking Canada from the late 1970s through the early 2000s. It identifies the movement's roots in alternative health beliefs, maternalist ideologies, skepticism toward pharmaceutical companies, and neo-liberal ideas emphasizing individual responsibility for health, alongside intensive parenting practices. Key anti-vaccine arguments included claims that vaccines were ineffective or harmful, that natural immunity and alternative health approaches were preferable, and distrust of medical authorities. The article highlights the importance of understanding these complex and nuanced perspectives to effectively address vaccine hesitancy and resistance, noting that most Canadian families continued to vaccinate their children despite the movement's growth.