Vaccinations in the Shadow of Eugenics

This chapter examines the complex relationship between eugenic fears and vaccine hesitancy, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It traces the historical roots of eugenics programs in Nazi Germany and the United States, exploring how these legacies inform contemporary concerns about vaccines as potential instruments of population control. The analysis reveals how historical injustices and ongoing inequities in healthcare access and vaccine distribution have reinforced mistrust among marginalized communities. The chapter discusses how eugenic concerns about vaccines often manifest as conspiracy narratives, sharing key features such as attributions of malevolent intent to powerful actors and positioning believers as victims. These narratives prove particularly resistant to refutation, adapting to incorporate counterarguments and evidence into their explanatory framework. To counteract eugenic fears driving vaccine hesitancy, the author proposes strategies to restore agency to marginalized communities and build trust through representation and engagement. Recommendations include increasing the participation of minoritized populations throughout the vaccine development and distribution process, leveraging trusted local institutions and community leaders, and utilizing social media to amplify empowering narratives about vaccination.