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MMR – public policy in crisis: whose tragedy?

MMR – public policy in crisis: whose tragedy? Purpose – To explore the issues surrounding the falling rates of MMR vaccination following the publication of a controversial study by Wakefield et al. Design/methodology/approach – In order to take a fresh look at the MMR crisis, the Greek tragedy, Antigone , was used as a “strong plot” to de‐contextualise the underlying social and political issues. In this short paper, two themes are explored that emerge from reading Antigone with respect to the unfolding crisis of public confidence in the MMR vaccine: first, the challenge to government in the form of a decrease in public trust in government and government policies; and second, how such a challenge assumes significance and, arising from that, the question of how one might respond to the challenge. Findings – The MMR debate throws issues of importance to society into relief – for example, public trust in government and science; and notions of public good versus rational choice in public policy on vaccination, However, much of the debate has been polarised into good versus evil – good and evil being subjective positions that are interchangeable, depending on the side one favours. It is argued that the issues are more complex than this, and are as much to do with political consent and the bargain between citizen and state. Originality/value – Using “strong plots” to theorise about current issues is powerful because it allows one to explore them from different angles and challenge one's understanding. Antigone provides us with a way of standing back from the MMR crisis and re‐conceptualising the issues to capture the essence of the underlying debate. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Health Organisation and Management Emerald Publishing

MMR – public policy in crisis: whose tragedy?

Laura Stroud
Journal of Health Organisation and Management , Volume 19 (3): 9 – Jun 1, 2005
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References (15)

Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
Copyright © 2005 Emerald Group Publishing Limited. All rights reserved.
ISSN
1477-7266
DOI
10.1108/14777260510608970
pmid
16119047
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Purpose – To explore the issues surrounding the falling rates of MMR vaccination following the publication of a controversial study by Wakefield et al. Design/methodology/approach – In order to take a fresh look at the MMR crisis, the Greek tragedy, Antigone , was used as a “strong plot” to de‐contextualise the underlying social and political issues. In this short paper, two themes are explored that emerge from reading Antigone with respect to the unfolding crisis of public confidence in the MMR vaccine: first, the challenge to government in the form of a decrease in public trust in government and government policies; and second, how such a challenge assumes significance and, arising from that, the question of how one might respond to the challenge. Findings – The MMR debate throws issues of importance to society into relief – for example, public trust in government and science; and notions of public good versus rational choice in public policy on vaccination, However, much of the debate has been polarised into good versus evil – good and evil being subjective positions that are interchangeable, depending on the side one favours. It is argued that the issues are more complex than this, and are as much to do with political consent and the bargain between citizen and state. Originality/value – Using “strong plots” to theorise about current issues is powerful because it allows one to explore them from different angles and challenge one's understanding. Antigone provides us with a way of standing back from the MMR crisis and re‐conceptualising the issues to capture the essence of the underlying debate.

Journal

Journal of Health Organisation and Management – Emerald Publishing

Published: Jun 1, 2005

Keywords: Public health; Immunization; Government policy; Literature

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