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Why are people choosing not to vaccinate their kids? There is no definitive answer to this, but in today's post-truth world, where misinformation and distrust of politicians and the media runs high, perhaps this is one area where people can feel that their personal choices matter. Opting out of vaccines may feel to some like a way of reasserting control over their family and their health, perhaps they find it easier to trust a misguided friend on social media than some distant politician who may or may not be on the payroll of 'big pharma.'

Either way, the anti-vaxxers movement is a dangerous, health risk causing trend, one that we here at Bored Panda are doing our best to highlight. With the battle for truth mainly fought online these days, it's only natural that anti-vaxx memes have become a potent weapon. Easily shareable, concise, humorous and savage, they are perfect fodder for the “TL-DR” generation and have become a common way to 'mock' the anti-vaccination crowd into modifying their behavior. Whether it works or not is another discussion, as we have seen in the past, people who feel under attack for their beliefs often double-down and solidify them in response. This is part of the reason why we have the least qualified President in the history of the United States, and political paralysis in the U.K.

Another thing to take into consideration with these memes is that they often carry an undercurrent of sexism with them; the savage roasts are targeted to the 'Anti-Vax Mom.' This mom is portrayed as dumb and naive, clutching her essential oils and a clean-eating regime, obsessed with her kids and suspicious of anything that isn't 'organic.' Presumably, all the dads in this scenario are ambivalent toward vaccinations, keeping quiet in the background while his shrill, unbearable wife makes a public spectacle of herself. Where are you all, Anti-Vaxx Dads?

No matter where you sit on this preventable diseases debate, the best memes we've collected below will give you a guilty chuckle. Dark, clever and merciless, they make their point loud and clear. But will they change anyone's minds? Only time will tell.

The measles virus could, in theory, be killed off completely if we got our act together. Because humans are the only carriers of the virus and we have an effective vaccine, if we manage to vaccinate enough people, particularly in the developing world, the disease could soon be eradicated.

#2

Sneaking Out To Get Shots

Sneaking Out To Get Shots

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Mia Yuish
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't know why , but this picture really gets me . I feel very pity for those kids who their parents doesn't allow them to get vaccine .

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However, as we know, the anti-vax movement is proving to be a sticking point, one that is threatening to derail the progress made in developed countries.

In the U.S. for example, the vaccination rates for MMR are high, with 91% of children getting the shot. That's almost enough for herd immunity, meaning that the virus finds it nearly impossible to find enough people to infect, and serves as a protection for those who can't be immunized. 

#5

Healing Oils

Healing Oils

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callie-ffnet avatar
logical fallacy
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is kinda misleading since essential oils do literally nothing to prevent diseases, while that poor cheese puff is doing its best.

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But there are increasing 'hotspots,' areas where people are choosing to 'opt out' of vaccines for their children, and these areas are vulnerable to outbreaks. The recent outbreak in the Oregon/Washington State area is an example of this.

It's not only the U.S. where people are skipping readily-available vaccines; there were over 40,000 cases in Europe in 2018, a record in the vaccine era.

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The MMR vaccine covers 3 diseases: Measles, Mumps and Rubella. Children are recommended to take 2 doses of the vaccine, first between 12 and 15 months, and second between 4 and 6 years. Parents are often most concerned about the first dose, when their child is very young and supposedly more at risk of complications from the vaccine. It has been proven to be very safe however, a live but very weak version of the virus is given to stimulate antibodies, which then will protect the child in the future. Mild rashes and fevers can occur as side effects of the vaccine, but more severe reactions are so rare as to be virtually non-existent. The benefits of prevention massively outweigh the minuscule risks.

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The scary thing about measles is that it's so easy to transmit. As an airborne virus, it can be passed along through tiny droplets from the nose and mouth, and can survive for up to two hours on surfaces that have been coughed and sneezed upon. Because the symptoms don't appear for up to four days, a person can unknowingly walk around infecting people before they even know they have the virus. One person can quite easily transmit measles to up to 20 people before getting symptoms, which means that an un-immunized population faces a huge risk if an outbreak occurs. This is why it's so important to get vaccinated! Measles was officially eliminated in the U.S. but has been allowed to make a comeback, mainly due to lax laws and the rise of the anti-vax movement. Have fun browsing these memes but remember, this is a serious issue so do your research.

#10

Why Complicate Things

Why Complicate Things

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#11

A Good Business

A Good Business

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callie-ffnet avatar
logical fallacy
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

House MD is an excellent, hilarious show, which, especially in the early episodes, focused on similar issues in the medical community, like anti-vaxxers and problems with antibiotics resistance.

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#12

Refusing To Vaccinate

Refusing To Vaccinate

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#15

Getting Vaccinated

Getting Vaccinated

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#16

Anti-Vaxxer Logic

Anti-Vaxxer Logic

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Monday
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What happens when the kid of an antivaxx mom is diagnosed with Autism? Do they then get the vaccine?

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#17

We Are All The Same

We Are All The Same

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#18

But I Googled It!

But I Googled It!

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Hello it Smee
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Uneducated anti-vaxxer parents think their 8th grade education is better than hundreds of thousands of PhDs.

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#21

Trust The Internet

Trust The Internet

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#24

That's Enough For You

That's Enough For You

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#25

Catch Them All

Catch Them All

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Nikki D
Community Member
5 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm so sad that I was born a little too late for the chicken pox vaccine. I have pock scars and have had shingles. I would never intentionally put a kid at risk of that.

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Susan Smith
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is a shingles vaccine that you can take, even if you've had shingles (it can recur). The problem with the chicken pox vaccine is that it is not recommended to get boosters every 10 years. As a result, you are again susceptible to the disease at a later date. My nephew contracted chicken pox when he was 17 as the vaccine he received as a child had worn off. This is very dangerous for men as it can make them sterile.

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Mary Phillips
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I, too, had shingles. It destroyed my phrenic (not sure of the spelling) nerve on my left side, paralyzing the left half of my diaphragm. I now have trouble breathing. I would NEVER let any child of mine be at risk for getting this awful disease. We need to start looking at refusal to vaccinate as child abuse, and court order (and court enforce, if necessary) vaccinations for ALL kids, unless there is a sound medical reason not to vaccinate.

lynnnoyes avatar
elfin
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most vaccine comments are about kids, but I'll throw this one in for shingles. If you were ever exposed to chicken pox then you may well get shingles when you're a senior. There is a new, 2-shot vaccine available that is extremely effective. It's pricey, but word is that shingles hurts worse than acid poured on open skin and it can come and go for years. The new vaccine is recommended even if you've had shingles, but you need to wait until you're symptom free.

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@the_bookworm
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

not to say the vaccine didn't work, I just think this is a funny story: I got the vaccine and I got pox anyhoo. The thing is they didn't itch. So i got to stay home, watch TV and eat froyo until they went away!

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WildZealot
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Antivaxxer don't realize that while yes vaccines don't cure diseases, they prepare your immune system for it. (The immune system is extremely complex. Just about as complex as the average non-stupid person's brain)

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Ann McKenzie
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not sure if the vaccine was around when I was little (1970's) but either way I didn't have it. My daughter was vaccinated as normal when a baby and when it went around at her day care centre (thanks anti-vax parents!) she didn't get it but I did, and it was horrific. I never want to feel that sick and go through such a thing again. And no one should have to!

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Ang.stl
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had chicken pox twice, once at 6 months old, which I was told was a pretty light case. When I had them again in second grade, as happens in my family pretty often, and all I remember is that I got in trouble if I scratched and calamine is worthless!! I do have a compromised immune system, so I started asking for the shingles vaccine as soon as I'd heard about it. From what I understand it is only supposed to make shingles less evil, not completely block it.

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Letitia Hedding
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I got the vaccine for chicken pox but caught it from my cousins who were not vaccinated, not a fun thing

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Jose Iseous
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Only way to vaccinate a clown is to Panick it. Since the vaccine health benefits just didn't quite cut it 😆

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Alix BLAIR
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

they should make that a real game, anti-vaxxers always believe uncreditable sources, so make an uncreditable source that says that vaccines are good

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Elizabeth Wilkins
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had chicken pox 6 times by the time I was 12. Born before the vaccine. Wish I didnt have all the scars and didnt have to be in the hospital all those times like when they were even under my eyelids. ..

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Devon Button
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In the UK we don't vaccinate against chicken pox. My son had a horrendous case of it and was very poorly.

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Kris Snyder
Community Member
5 years ago

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I have not vaxxs and I'm still alive to tell y'all this is all bs. if you get sick get over you'll get better without the need of medicine,

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#26

Better Late Than Never

Better Late Than Never

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callie-ffnet avatar
logical fallacy
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was going to comment something sarcastic like 'oh wow these diseases are still around?", but then I checked online about this woman. Turns out that was her thinking, plus generic fear over vaccines. Many people think that these diseases are eliminated, so getting the shot is unnecessary, and they're scared by unsubstantiated rumours they're not equipped scientifically to understand. Both are wrong. These diseases still exist and they kill, and the science behind vaccines is simple. Dare to read about it, and it's game over for anti-vaxxers.

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#29

Evil Medicine

Evil Medicine

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Kururi.Orihara
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now that I think about it, Anit-Vaxxers are probably equivalent to the people who persecuted others in the Salem Witch Trails. Something they don't understand=must be evil and avioded at all costs.

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#30

Stop Right There

Stop Right There

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Nathan Parrish
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

did anyone else just pick the "shut up" and "go away" options to see if he left?

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