Provider: Moravian Museum, Brno, Czech Republic

TY  - JOUR
JO  - Anthropologie (Brno)
TI  - LORD BYRON (1788–1824) AS THE PRECURSOR
OF CELEBRITIES ENDORSING VACCINE
HESITANCY: A CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGICAL
LESSON FOR COVID-19 IMMUNISATION
STRATEGIES
AU  - GALASSI FM
AU  - INGALISO L
AU  - VITTORI V
AU  -
HABICHT ME
AU  - COSSARIZZA A
AU  - VAROTTO E
Y1  - 2022
VL  - 60
IS  - 1
PB  - Moravian Museum, Brno, Czech Republic
SN  - 0323-1119
SP  - 0
EP  - 0
KW  - Vaccine – Prevention – COVID-19 – Jenner – Smallpox – Byron
N2  - 
N2  - Lord Byron can be classified as the prototype of contemporary celebrities endorsing pseudo-scientific
views and opposing vaccination policies based on his public statements, while privately he appears to have had double
standards since he had his page inoculated against smallpox. Through a review of the biomedical and historical
literature this paper examines the role of the example given by celebrities during vaccination campaigns, focusing on
the historical figure of Lord Byron. A reassessment of his writings on the topic of vaccination (cowpox inoculation) is
then performed and put in the greater context of celebrities, past and present, commenting in favour or against
immunisation policies. Byron's case demonstrates how health institutions should not underestimate the influence of
‘VIPs' on the success of vaccinations, and should seek their help and positive example when trying to persuade the
general population of the importance of vaccinations.
ER  -