Wariness and outright hostility to vaccines did not start with COVID-19 but date back to the 18th century when the first shots were given.From real fears sparked by side effects to fake studies and conspiracy theories, we take a look at anti-vax sentiment over the ages:1796: First Jab, First Fears Smallpox killed or disfigured countless millions for centuries before it was eradicated in 1980 through vaccination.In 1796 the English physician Edward Jenner came up with the idea of usin

I am starting to think that common sense really is not that common after all - we live in exceedingly stupid times. Exhibit 874: United States (US) anti-vaxxers are now urging people to drink their own urine to fight coronavirus. Over the weekend, Christopher Key, the leader of an anti-COVID-19 vaccine group called the “Vaccine Police”, posted videos online extolling the health benefits of what he described as “urine therapy”.

Novak Djokovic, the world’s top-ranking tennis player, has just been granted a medical exemption to take part in the Australian Open. Djokovic, who has won the event nine times (one more victory would give him a record-breaking 21 major titles), refused to show proof of vaccination, which is required to enter Australia.

Tens of thousands took to the streets in cities across Europe and Australia Saturday as anger mounted over fresh COVID restrictions imposed against a resurgent pandemic.And Dutch police faced a second night of rioting – this time in The Hague – after the previous night's violence in the port city of Rotterdam.Clashes erupted after a day of mainly peaceful protests elsewhere in the Netherlands, with rioters throwing stones and fireworks at police and setting fire to bicycles.

In recent weeks, as Europe has again become the global epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic, the surge in coronavirus cases, hospitalisations, and deaths has highlighted the continued vaccine hesitancy of one group of Europeans in particular: those in the formerly communist East. While 75.6% of European Union (EU) citizens are fully vaccinated, the share in Bulgaria is 26.2 percent and 39.6 percent in Romania. In countries outside the EU, the numbers are even bleaker.

Marc Van Ranst, a virologist famous in Belgium for providing expertise about the COVID-19 pandemic, was at home for his first afternoon off in months in May, unaware that his life was under threat and that he would soon be forced to go into hiding.Jurgen Conings, a soldier aligned with right-wing extremist movements who had stated his intent to harm Van Ranst was sitting in a car nearby armed with four rocket launchers. It wasn't until the following day Van Ranst learned he was

We live in a world where everyone has an opinion, which can be instantly shared with millions of people across the world via social media. This can be a good thing when getting factual information out: We have seen how important it is to share personal stories from those living in areas of conflict so people can have an insider’s view of what it is like on the ground. Most recently, this has shone an important light on the plight of women in Afghanistan.

Wariness and outright hostility to vaccines did not start with COVID-19, they date back to the 18th century when the first shots were given. From real fears sparked by side-effects, to fake studies and conspiracy theories, we take a look at anti-vax sentiment over the ages:1796: First Jab, First FearsSmallpox killed or disfigured countless millions for centuries before it was eradicated in 1980 through vaccination.In 1796 the English physician Edward Jenner came up with the idea of u

A growing number of countries and territories around the world are forcing people, often in specific sectors, to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Here is a roundup:Mandatory In Tajikistan, VaticanTajikistan and the Vatican are among the rare countries imposing vaccinations on all adults.In ex-Soviet Tajikistan the official news agency has published a government decree obliging all over 18s to be vaccinated, without giving further details.In the Vatican, the world's smallest state

Although countries like Israel, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US) have done particularly well getting COVID-19 vaccines into arms as fast as possible, vaccine hesitancy remains a serious hurdle. In the US, it has already derailed President Joe Biden’s goal of administering at least one vaccine dose to 70 percent of the US population by 4 July.  In a CNN poll in April, about 26 percent of US respondents said they do not intend to get vaccinated at all.