In a recent study conducted by a cultural anthropologist, it was found that vaccine skepticism among mothers is not solely driven by ignorance or fringe ideologies, but rather a deep-rooted mistrust of the U.S. healthcare system. The research, conducted in Oregon from 2020 to 2021, focused on predominantly white mothers between the ages of 25 and 60.

The study revealed that these mothers' skepticism towards vaccines can be traced back to their personal experiences of medical harm, which shaped their perception of U.S. healthcare. As young girls, many of the mothers recalled instances of being touched without consent, disbelieved, or threatened during medical appointments. These negative encounters continued into adulthood, especially during childbirth, where they felt managed, pressured, or discounted by healthcare providers.

Furthermore, the convoluted bureaucracy of for-profit healthcare compounded their distrust. These mothers rejected the idea that public health entities, like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), had their children's best interests at heart. Instead, they tied childhood vaccination and COVID-19 vaccines to a bloated pharmaceutical industry and a profit-driven healthcare model.

The mothers interviewed in the study lost trust not only in individual healthcare providers but also in the entire medical system. Frustrating experiences led them to seek out information on their own, exploring critical books, articles, and podcasts that highlighted past vaccine trials gone wrong, histories of medical harm and abuse, and the profits reaped by drug companies and the for-profit healthcare industry.

These findings challenge previous theories that suggested vaccine skepticism among white and well-off mothers stemmed from consumer healthcare and individualism. Instead, the study shows that these mothers' skepticism is a response to a broader belief among Americans that the healthcare system does more harm than good. Data supports this perception, with incidents of medical errors in the U.S. outnumbering those in peer countries, despite higher healthcare spending per capita.

The study also highlights the particularly high rates of medical errors in vulnerable communities, including women, people of color, the disabled, the poor, LGBTQ+ individuals, and the elderly. Maternal death rates in the U.S. have also doubled between 1999 and 2019, shedding light on the structural issues within the healthcare system.

The pervasive medical mistrust among Americans is a cause for concern, with only 23% expressing high confidence in the medical system. The United States ranks low in public trust among peer high-income countries.

The study emphasizes that vaccine skepticism among these mothers is not a result of ignorance or fringe ideologies but a rational response to their lived experiences within the U.S. healthcare system. To address this issue, it is crucial to acknowledge and rectify the historical and ongoing harms that have eroded trust in healthcare providers and the system as a whole.

As vaccination rates continue to decline and the COVID-19 pandemic persists, understanding and addressing the underlying reasons for vaccine skepticism becomes even more crucial in order to protect public health and restore trust in the healthcare system.