Here is one example where mandatory vaccination is not the solution for measles in Europe. Looking at the number of measles cases in children by country, there is also no consistent difference, with some countries that have mandatory vaccination, such as Bulgaria and Slovakia, having very high rates of measles.
The most obvious problem with mandatory vaccination is that it impinges on people’s rights, a fundamental aspect of liberal democracy. Indeed, the social perception of the rich imposing their will at the expense of individual autonomy led to the end of mandatory smallpox vaccination in England in 1946.
We know a lot about the reasons behind vaccine hesitancy. Parents declining the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine often believe that vaccines are unsafe and ineffective and that the diseases they prevent are mild and uncommon. Some lack trust in their health professionals and in science.
