France looks to curb its growing anti-vaccination movement with a new law
France, the birthplace of vaccine pioneer Louis Pasteur, has a major problem with vaccines. Skepticism around the safety of vaccines has soared in the country, fueled by growing distrust in public health institutions and the pharmaceutical industry. French authorities hope that a new law will change that.
Last week, the French Health Ministry announced plans to make 11 vaccines mandatory for young children by 2018. French law currently mandates three vaccines — diphtheria, tetanus, and polio — for children under the age of two. The government’s proposal would expand that list to include eight other vaccines — including those against Hepatitis B, whooping cough, and measles — that were previously only recommended.
The proposal, which is…
