ABSTRACT
The hegemonic status of vaccinations in the world of medicine today is an impressive feat. Vaccinations occupy a place of honor parallel to achievements such as antibiotics as well as improvements in sanitation and water quality, considered as a leading cause of the drop in death rates from contagious diseases and the rise in longevity that has been registered in the course of the twentieth century.1 Yet while vaccinations are considered a paradigm of success, at the same time they have encountered fierce criticism and unparalleled opposition throughout the history of medicine. In many places opposition to vaccination has reached the scope of civil insurrection, with closure of schools and places of employment. Massive political mobilization against these medical interventions has also been common.2 To this day, especially with the recent reintroduction of immunization against smallpox, vaccination continues to be an issue steeped in controversy.3
