[Correspondence] Divergent policy responses to increasing vaccine scepticism in southern Europe

In the last month, the Greek1 and Italian2 Ministries of Health have expressed concern about increasing numbers of parents refusing to vaccinate their children against preventable infectious diseases. But their policy responses have been very different. Greece moved from a paternalist approach to child vaccinations to a more laissez faire one. Child vaccination has been mandatory since 1999 and children were only allowed to avoid vaccination for certified medical reasons. But at the end of May, 2017, the left-wing Syriza-led government proposed that parents be able to opt out of vaccinating their children.
Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases - Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Tags: Correspondence Source Type: research