For over 230 years, vaccines have stood at the intersection of science and survival—quietly preventing diseases, saving lives, and, in the case of smallpox, eradicating the threat. What began as a radical experiment has since transformed into a cornerstone of modern medicine.
From breakthrough to backbone of public health
The numbers are hard to ignore. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that global immunization efforts have saved at least 154 million lives in the past five decades alone. But, despite this legacy, vaccines today are under intense scrutiny—shaking public trust. This World Health Day (April 7), we asked medical experts to weigh in.
The growing skepticism about vaccines has even affected public confidence in health systems. Dr. Suhas MS, Senior Consultant in Internal Medicine at Cytecare Hospitals, Bengaluru, attributes this to multiple factors.
“The distrust may arise from misinformation and social media amplification, past unethical practices such as drug scandals, hidden data, and the perception of profit-driven motives,” he told A Lotus In The Mud.
“In reality, before any vaccine is approved, regulatory bodies such as the US Food and Drug Administration and the Indian Council of Medical Research require multiple steps, including multi-phase trials, independent review, and post-marketing surveillance.”
The first successful vaccine was for smallpox
In 1796, the first successful vaccine was developed by Edward Jenner, who discovered that infection with cowpox could protect against smallpox. Since then, vaccines have helped eliminate the fear of diseases ranging from polio and tetanus to measles and mumps.
Building on this legacy, Dr. Suhas emphasized the continued importance of vaccination in safeguarding communities.
“Vaccination is required to protect public health—especially children and the elderly—and to prevent outbreaks in schools and crowded settings. This approach has historically been effective for diseases such as measles. They are ethically justified when the disease is contagious and serious, and the vaccine is proven to be safe and effective,” he said.
A UNICEF report reinforces this view, describing vaccines as among the safest and most effective public health tools, preventing 3.5–5 million deaths annually from diseases such as measles, diphtheria, pertussis, and polio. They also reduce hospitalizations, morbidity, and mortality.
“Collective safety is more important than individual choice—herd immunity plays an important role,” said Dr. Shivakumar Manvi, Senior Consultant Paediatrics, Prakriya Hospitals, Bengaluru.
Trust under strain: Misinformation, mandates, and public doubt
“Again, counseling is needed to make the person understand; irrespective of ethics or religion, one has to know the priority and balance the risks for the self or the society,” said Dr. Shivakumar.
Despite their proven benefits, vaccines are facing growing challenges. According to another UNICEF report, declining global health funding and weakening public confidence have led to more than 14 million infants missing even a single dose of vaccine in 2024.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also show that childhood vaccination rates in America are declining, with exemptions at an all-time high—signaling a broader shift in public attitudes.
Dr. Suhas cautions that individual vaccination choices can carry broader societal risks. “While personal choice is important, infectious diseases are not purely individual risks. One person’s decision can affect elderly individuals, cancer patients, and newborns. This is why public health bodies emphasize vaccination as a shared responsibility, similar to traffic rules or sanitation laws,” he said.
From questions about safety and side effects to growing skepticism in public spaces, the conversation has shifted. So where does the truth lie?
“There is transparent reporting of even rare adverse events, if any. Most vaccine side effects, if they occur, appear within weeks, not years. Serious adverse events are very rare (often <1 per 100,000 or even 1 per million),” explained Dr. Suhas.
Between scientific consensus and public doubt, the story of vaccines today is no longer just about medicine—it’s about trust, perception, and the evolving relationship between the two.
The vaccine debate has recently been reignited by remarks from US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has called for stronger science around vaccine safety, citing “huge deficits” and urging better information for informed choices.
His comments have raised eyebrows, given his association with vaccine skepticism and his role as founder of Children’s Health Defense.
Despite their proven benefits, vaccines are facing growing challenges. According to a Unicef report, declining global health funding and weakening public confidence have led to more than 14 million infants missing even a single dose of vaccine in 2024.
Science vs skepticism: What experts say
Offering another perspective, Anuradha Vashisht, a natural health and wellness consultant with over 25 years of experience, notes that people today are exposed to a growing volume of information highlighting the potential long-term risks of excessive or unnecessary vaccination.
“But for some strange reason, it never comes up in the public domain,” she said, adding that Robert Kennedy is likely privy to information that could make him wary of vaccine manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies. “There is no clear-cut evidence on either side. I do not think that Kennedy’s criticism poses a threat to public trust in healthcare,” she told A Lotus In The Mud.
She believes such concerns stem from a desire for greater transparency.
“People want full transparency so that they can make informed decisions. It is for sure that only selective information on these issues comes out straight. That is what probably is Kennedy’s concern,” she said.
Medical experts, however, point to gaps in understanding. “People are often concerned due to a lack of clarity about ingredients such as mRNA, adjuvants, and preservatives, fear of ‘toxins,’ and misunderstanding of how vaccines work,” Dr. Suhas explained. “In reality, these are present in very small, safe quantities, and the scientific consensus is clear—the benefits far outweigh the risks.”
Historical incidents have also shaped public perception. Early batches of the Salk polio vaccine were contaminated with Simian Virus 40 (SV40) between 1955 and 1961. While the virus can cause cancer in animals, no confirmed human cases have been linked to it. Experts emphasize that such cases remain isolated.
That remains an isolated case; however, concerns around vaccine ingredients and their potential effects persist.
Dr. Tilak N, Consultant in General Medicine at Prakriya Hospitals, Bengaluru, addressed these, noting, “Vaccines contain components such as stabilizers and adjuvants that enhance their effectiveness. These are used in very small, regulated quantities and have been extensively studied.”
In India, the Universal Immunization Programme provides free vaccines against 12 preventable diseases from birth to five years, with most administered in the first two years. However, global inequality remains stark, with most “zero-dose” children living in low- and middle-income countries.
While personal choice is important, infectious diseases are not purely individual risks. One person’s decision can affect elderly individuals, cancer patients, and newborns. This is why public health bodies emphasize vaccination as a shared responsibility, similar to traffic rules or sanitation laws.
The key question: Choice, transparency, and the future of vaccination
As vaccines become central to public health—and often a requirement for school or daycare entry—the need to maintain trust becomes critical.
Amid these discussions, Anuradha questions the fairness of making vaccine cards mandatory for school admissions, calling it “not at all just.” “Not many countries have made it mandatory,” she said, adding that coercing parents by invoking fears of infection can seem draconian.
“Enforced vaccination curtails individual freedom to decide what is good for one’s physical and mental well-being. Knowing is always the best way—understanding how to maintain natural immunity, along with all aspects of vaccination,” she said.
At the same time, she noted that access to complete information remains limited to ordinary people. “It is the responsibility of the state, pharma companies, and the scientific community to place all findings before the public.”
From a public health standpoint, however, relying solely on natural immunity is not considered viable. Dr. Tilak noted that widespread infection would increase hospitalizations and mortality. “Vaccination reduces disease transmission, severity, and complications, protecting both individuals and communities,” he said.
“It is also important to note that hybrid immunity—immunity achieved through a combination of vaccination and prior infection—has been shown to provide strong protection in many cases. However, this does not justify seeking infection intentionally, as the risks remain significant and unpredictable,” he said.
There is also a common conflation between healthcare and disease management.
“Using the word ‘healthcare’ in the context of using vaccines or medications is a misnomer. We can call it disease management or pathogen management,” argued Anuradha. “True healthcare is something an individual does by taking care of one’s own well-being through voluntarily adopting healthier lifestyles.”
COVID-19 pandemic and the vaccine debate
The debate intensified further during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly around concerns linking vaccines to heart conditions. However, current evidence does not support such claims.
“Current scientific evidence does not support a causal link between COVID-19 vaccines and an increased incidence of heart attacks,” said Dr Tilak.
The key issue is a mismatch between perception and evidence—vaccines are suspected of raising heart risks, but studies show COVID-19 infection poses the far greater threat.
“Large population-based studies have shown that rates of myocardial infarction after vaccination are not higher than baseline rates in the general population. In fact, vaccination reduces overall cardiovascular risk by preventing severe COVID-19 infection,” said Dr. Tilak.
In contrast, COVID-19 infection itself is strongly associated with serious complications, including myocarditis, arrhythmias, and heart failure.
“These include myocarditis, acute coronary syndromes, arrhythmias, heart failure, and thrombotic events. The inflammatory response and hypercoagulable state induced by the virus significantly increase the risk of heart attacks, even in individuals without prior cardiac disease,” he explained.
Even concerns about newer technologies, such as mRNA vaccines, are addressed by existing research. “mRNA vaccines do not enter the cell nucleus, cannot alter DNA, and are quickly broken down by the body,” Dr. Suhas explained. “There is no credible scientific evidence linking them to cancer.”
Many people worry that vaccines—especially newer ones such as COVID vaccines—were developed too quickly in the face of the worldwide pandemic in 2020, the first in a hundred years.
So, questions around long-term data persist. “Without studies spanning four to five decades on vaccine use, we cannot fully understand the entire picture,” said Anuradha.
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