Shocking increase in anti-vaxxer parents in Hungary

Fatal childhood diseases may return if the number of anti-vaxxer parents continues to grow in Hungary. There is already an organisation providing legal and medical advice to these parents on how to sue doctors.

Anti-vaxxer doctors cannot be excluded anymore

According to the General Secretary of the Hungarian Paediatric Association, one in every five children died before compulsory vaccination for childhood diseases like pertussis and diphtheria. Even so, the number of anti-vaxxer parents is skyrocketing in Hungary, which may lead to future tragedies.

Based on the information from the Hungarian Medical Chamber (MOK), parents are suing doctors over compulsory vaccination. They receive legal and medical assistance from anti-vaxxer doctors and lawyers. Péter Álmos, the president of MOK, mentioned that these doctors and lawyers coach parents on what to say to extract incriminating statements from the doctors. Mr Álmos added that the government has abolished compulsory MOK membership, preventing them from excluding anti-vaxxer doctors.

Photo: FB

Hungarian party behind anti-vaxxer parents?

Tamás Svéd, the General Secretary of the chamber, stated that some doctors are attempting to gain personal and political advantages by campaigning against vaccination. It has been reported multiple times that Mi Hazánk (Our Homeland), a right-wing radical party in Hungary, has also campaigned against compulsory COVID-19 vaccination.

This activity may have encouraged vaccine hesitancy. Magyar Nemzet, a government-aligned daily, reported that the party could be behind the increase in anti-vaxxer parents. The paper noted that the number of exemptions from compulsory childhood vaccinations rose to 96 in 2024, compared to only 19 in 2021.

Waiting for the COVID-19 vaccination. https://www.facebook.com/koronavirus.gov.hu/photos

RTL Klub reported that the number of pertussis patients has increased over the last few years from 10 to 70. Experts believe that this is partly due to fewer people being vaccinated against it in neighbouring countries compared to Hungary.

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