Vaccine hesitancy has become a threat to public health, especially as it is a phenomenon that has also been observed among healthcare professionals.
In this study, an international team of researchers analyzed the relationship between endorsement of so-called alternative medicine (SCAM) and vaccination attitudes and behaviors among healthcare professionals, using a cross-sectional sample of physicians with vaccination responsibilities from four European countries:
- Germany,
- Finland,
- Portugal,
- France.
In total the sample amounted to 2,787 physicians.
The results suggest that, in all the participating countries, SCAM endorsement is associated with lower frequency of vaccine recommendation, lower self-vaccination rates, and being more open to patients delaying vaccination, with these relationships being mediated by distrust in vaccines. A latent profile analysis revealed that a profile characterized by higher-than-average SCAM endorsement and lower-than-average confidence and recommendation of vaccines occurs, to some degree, among 19% of the total sample, although these percentages varied from one country to another:
- 24% in Germany,
- 18% in France,
- 10% in Finland,
- 6% in Portugal.
These results constitute a call to consider health care professionals’ attitudes toward SCAM as a factor that could hinder the implementation of immunization campaigns.
The authors also point out that the link between SCAM endorsement and negative attitudes toward vaccines has been documented in previous research among the general public. A systematic review, which categorized arguments against vaccines retrieved from peer-reviewed articles and debunking texts published by international fact checking agencies, identified a category of arguments largely based on alternative health beliefs related to SCAM. This category was the third most common in the scientific and fact-checking literature. Furthermore, in a British study, anti-vaccination arguments related to SCAM were also among the most endorsed arguments by individuals. These results suggest that SCAM beliefs play an important role in individuals’ justification of their hesitant attitudes toward vaccines for both adults and children. Analyses of samples from the Australian, Finnish, American, and Spanish general populations found that positive attitudes toward SCAM were related to negative attitudes toward vaccines. In a recent large-scale study in 18 European countries, parental consultation with homeopaths was associated with higher vaccine hesitancy than consultation with pediatricians or nurses. Moreover, a systematic review found that SCAM use tended to be positively associated with lower childhood immunization. Similar findings were reported also from the US and Australia.
There are several potential causes for the observed relationship between vaccine hesitancy and SCAM. Since SCAM use occurs more frequently at the poles of the disease spectrum (i.e., in cases of minor or life-threatening illness), SCAM use has been identified as a marker of both misperception of risk and frustration with regular healthcare (e.g., negative prognosis or lack of remission of symptoms). Accordingly, SCAM-related health conceptions could be motivating healthcare practitioners (HCPs) to be more reluctant to recommend and receive vaccinations both for illnesses that are perceived as minor and in cases of severe clinical pictures. There are also reasons related to the potential alignment between SCAM and the ideology or worldview of the HCP, such as their distrust in “Big Pharma” or a general disregard for scientific knowledge. Along the same lines, it has been shown that the main reasons for their preference for SCAM included a greater affinity between SCAM, their do-it-yourself approach to health care, and their sympathy for natural and allegedly harm-free products in contrast to medications marketed by pharmaceutical companies, which were perceived as ineffective, “toxic” and “adulterating.”
Besides these implicit reasons, some SCAM traditions are theoretically incompatible with vaccination and portrayed as a valid, or even superior, alternative to scientific knowledge. A quantitative study found that pro-SCAM and anti-vaccination attitudes both reflect beliefs contrary to basic scientific knowledge, such as “an imbalance between energy currents lies behind many illnesses” and “an illness should be treated with a medicine that has properties similar to those of the illness.” An example of these SCAM-related beliefs that contradict the theoretical basis of vaccinations is “homeopathic immunization” through so-called “nosodes” – orally administered extreme dilutions of infectious agents. Similarly, Rudolf Steiner and Ryke Geerd Hamer, promoters of anthroposophic medicine and ‘German New Medicine’, respectively, have sown doubts about vaccinations based on their conceptions of the etiology and treatment of diseases. Consequently, strong science denial and vaccine hesitancy can be found within these communities, and outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles and whooping cough, have been reported in educational centers linked to anthroposophy.
PS
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.
40 Responses to Endorsement of so-called alternative medicine (SCAM) and vaccine hesitancy among physicians
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When you are lied to, you no longer trust the authorities:
https://dailyclout.io/pfizer-changed-the-criteria-for-vaccine-failure/
so hesitancy is hardly surprising.
And?
You really don’t understand that paper, what it is claiming and what it actually means do you, Bob? As ever you parrot any antivax bumwash which crosses your path without an iota of insight.
@Old Bob
The one spreading here lies is you.
exactly!
*Yawn*
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There is nothing to confirm vaccine efficacy but plenty of the opposite, e.g. governments refuse to investigate excess mortality. Hence hesitancy increases e.g.
Oncologist: Late-Stage Cancers Are Devastating Students After College Vaccine Mandates:
https://vigilantnews.com/post/oncologist-late-stage-cancers-are-devastating-students-after-college-vaccine-mandates
Who will trust government that will not investigate this?
I do wonder, OB, when you made your last correct statement here on this blog – a long time ago, I think.
you are a deluded idiot, I sorry to say.
@Old Bob
It is clear that we can take the exact opposite of the FUD and nonsense you are spreading here in order to get at the truth, see e.g.
https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/dailyclout-bias/
and
https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/vigilant-news-bias/
And you should realize one thing: together with other antivaccine idiots, you share responsibility for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people who believe the misinformation you spread, and forego vaccination, only to die completely needlessly when they get infected.
What you do is in fact similar to telling people lies about how seatbelts and motorcycle helmets are dangerous, and advise people not to use them – something that would demonstrably result in countless avoidable deaths.
@Edzard: perhaps it’s time to show OB the exit? As you correctly remark, he is a deluded idiot who clearly is way to deep down the antivaccine rabbit hole to be receptive to any reason any more. He will only keep parroting an endless amount of lies and misinformation, without ever admitting to be wrong. I for one long ago ceased to appreciate the amusement value of his perpetual stupidity.
“Edzard: perhaps it’s time to show OB the exit?”
I have been thinking about that for a while
@EDZART
“perhaps it’s time to show OB the exit?
I have been thinking about that for a while”
Because old man, you are useless. You are nothing more than a weak clitoris…A little pink dry clit that can’t get hard.
All you know how to do is censor the opposition to continue your lying liberal dumbfounded nonsense.
thanks, that’s a remarkable insult and ad hominem!
if you don’t mind, I’ll make a lecture slide of it.
As I’m an ‘old man’ it is probably hardly worth learning the correct spelling of my name.
RG,
You are not only vile but too dumb to understand that you made your own case to be banned. You keep racking up your score. Now you have to apologize to both Richard and EE.
Nothing to confirm vaccine efficacy? Apart from the hugely greater number of percentage deaths in the unvaccinated?
We know you are immune to objective facts, Bob. Why do you take such delight in proving repeatedly that antivaxers are ignorant, ideologically-blinded loons?
Kick him off, Edzard. He contributes nothing and cannot be schooled.
@OB
If the govt investigated that, you and antivax friends will spin up more conspiracy theories to cast doubt on the results of the investigation.
Why spend tax payer money investing endless BS that comes out of the mouths of antivax loons?
I was dismayed when this silly expression ‘Vaccine Hesitant’ became popular among some medical ‘professionals’ during the early days of the Covid pandemic – and strangely, it still persists to this day.
The word ‘hesitant’ is a negative word, often used to describe a person who hesitates, dithers, cannot make a decision and has a poor intellect.
Instead, I prefer the term ‘Vaccine Cautious’ which I would describe myself as being – regardless of which ‘vaccine’ we happen to be discussing. Why would anyone be critical of someone conducting their own due diligence BEFORE agreeing to be impregnated with a cocktail of synthetic chemicals – just because a Government spokesperson says they should?
I realise I’m in a very small minority of contributors to this platform that has an open mind – and that suits me just fine!
Because they use loaded language like “impregnated with a cocktail of synthetic chemicals” and hide behind terminology like “vaccine cautious” and “due diligence”.
Mojo, nearly all drugs – including vaccines – are a cocktail of synthetic chemicals, don’t you know that? It’s accepted that the vast majority of pharmaceuticals – both over the counter & prescribed by a physician – are considered safe and effective when taken at the recommended dosage – do we agree on that?
However, some medicinal formulations can and do cause unwanted side effects which I’m not going to list here (there are too many), I’m sure you are familiar with some of them.
And do you really have a problem with someone deciding to conduct due diligence before making an important decision? If you do, then I would be very interested to know why you object to that.
Perhaps you might respond more thoughtfully to any of my future postings.
@Mike Grant
‘Vaccine Cautious’ has no medical, legal or scientific meaning. It is a silly term concocted by antivax morons.
Hello ‘Talker’ (whoever you are?) – I didn’t claim the expression ‘Vaccine Cautious’ has a medical, legal or scientific meaning. Are you really attempting to make a serious point? I choose to describe myself as vaccine cautious – and you are free to describe your opinion if you choose – or not – to being jabbed with a drug that has not yet been subjected to any long term safety an efficacy studies. Please try to refrain from making any more ill-judged replies to my postings.
‘Mike Grant’ (whoever you are – and you’ve admitted it’s not your real name)
I think Talker was just showing an English sense of humour. It seems to have passed you by.
Mike “has no medical, legal or scientific meaning” Grant,
I didn’t say you did. Perhaps you assume things that are not said?
I already expressed my opinion. It appears that it went over your head.
LOL! Last time I checked you are not the admin of this blog therefore you don’t get to tell anyone what they can and cannot comment on.
On second thought, the word ‘Vaccine Cautious’ doesn’t do justice describing the state of mind of a hardcore antivaxxer who likes to claim that the vaccines are not tested for safety and efficacy, despite the plethora of evidence to the contrary. Therefore, I recommend using the term ‘vaxxi-moron’ (I know it doesn’t have any medical, legal, or scientific meaning).
The use of the term “vaccine hesitancy” in the medical profession predates the COVID pandemic.
Here’s a reference to a seminar about it dating from 2017:
https://ncirs.org.au/ncirs-seminarwebinar-series/270917-addressing-vaccine-hesitancy-and-refusal
Here’s an information sheet about it from the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne (Australia) from 2017:
https://blogs.rch.org.au/news/2017/09/08/first-time-mothers-uncertain-about-vaccinating-their-children/
Here’s a 2019 article (from before COVID was identified in the same year) about how general practitioner supervisors should talk to their registrars about vaccine-hesitant patients:
https://gpsa.org.au/how-to-help-registrars-deal-with-vaccine-hesitant-parents/
And they’re just a few examples from Australia, because I was aware of discussion about vaccine hesitancy in the media for some time before the start of the COVID pandemic.
Your comment is just a little pedantic don’t you think? If you had read my sentence more carefully, you might have realised I said: “became popular” – in other words, I didn’t claim the term had NEVER been used prior to Covid. Please be more accurate in future.
Maybe Nili Kaplan-myrth MD PhD, who has had all the jabs and always wears a mask, and gets covid twice in a month and then blames everyone who is non-jabbed, is the reason for hesitancy?
https://twitter.com/search?q=covid%20nili%20kaplan-myrth
A baby died as a result of being denied a ‘routine’ vitamin – but wait a moment: According to some medically qualified commentators on this forum, vitamin supplements are only prescribed by SCAM peddlers and other dangerous cranks.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-67241516
Can you link to a post where a medically qualified commentator on this forum has said that vitamin supplements are only prescribed by SCAM peddlers and other dangerous cranks, please?
Do you understand that the reason that something is prescribed can be crucially important in assessing whether the prescription is quackery? For example, bloodletting is a valid treatment for haemochromatosis, but its use as a routine treatment to balance “humours” is quackery.
In Israel, 8-Year-Old Yonatan Moshe Erlichman, ‘Vaccine Poster Child’, Dies After Sudden Heart Attack:
https://miriambelknap.substack.com/p/in-israel-8-year-old-yonatan-moshe
and that is your proof that vaccines are dangerous?
No, not proof, just a reason to be hesitant.
There was a time when the media went ape-shit over excess mortality caused by a virus but heart-attacks in children and young adults? That is The New Normal, caused by climate change:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41569-022-00720-x
What is the average dude to make of that? Could it be the weather? Or could it be something injected? – could that be the source of “hesitancy”?
“What is the average dude to make of that? ”
that depends on what conspiracy theory he/she subscribes to, as you only too well know, OB!
@Old Bob
I think it is absolutely disgusting and sickening that antivaxxers use the death of a child for spreading their propaganda and their lies.
Your emotion against an anonymous stranger on the internet blinds you from insisting on an investigation into why the young and healthy are getting heart attacks.
That slur, “antivaxxer” (at 2:46) is dealt with effectively by Esther McVey here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdeYzaTZsOA
OB, you do have a gift of comming up with all the right people!
@Old Bob
I’ll just assume that your antivaxx propaganda about children dying from vaccines originates from stupidity, rather than malice.
We know why children sometimes go into cardiac arrest; there are in fact several well-known causes, such as congenital heart disease, long QT syndrome, several forms of cardiomyopathy, but also thermal shock and impact trauma to the chest. BUT NOT VACCINES.
So dumb antivaccine f*cks (and that includes you) should keep their mouths shut, at the very least until a definitive cause of death a child is known, instead of immediately screaming bloody murder about how this child was killed by vaccination – which, to my knowledge, has in fact never been the cause of death of a child.
It is bad enough for parents to lose their child. They are NOT helped in any way by total imbeciles like you who tell – and sometimes even outright harass – them that they killed their child by having it vaccinated.
So even if you can’t muster the modicum of intelligence necessary to look past all the antivaccine lies and misinformation, and keep swallowing that endless stream of crap, the stench of which permeates even here through your comments, I would suggest that you at least keep your dumb mouth shut, especially when children are involved.
(And my sincere apologies tot other readers for the strong language, but I’m afraid that the message doesn’t get across otherwise.)
Richard Rasker on Sunday 29 October 2023 at 15:12 said:
“…We know why children sometimes go into cardiac arrest; there are in fact several well-known causes, such as… BUT NOT VACCINES.”
What evidence would change your mind?
I consider this issue closed and end the discussion here; therefore I will not post any further comments of yours on this subject.
@Old Bob
Proper, broadly supported scientific/medical research, published in peer-reviewed journals, detailing how vaccines can and indeed do cause cardiac arrest in children, complete with verified case reports.
Most certainly not the rubbish from scientifically incompetent idiots that you keep coming up with.
You really have no idea what harm you are causing, now are you? Not only are you actively contributing to the death of people by making them shun vaccines, you are implicitly accusing parents of killing their own children through vaccination by repeating vile crap such as above. To put it another way: antivaxxers can be considered members of a cult that promotes stupidity and death.
I think that here, on this blog, OB is only causing laughter