Unvaxxed: Trust, Truth and the Rise of Vaccine Outrage

by Dyani Lewis

Unvaxxed is a nuanced, timely look at vaccine hesitancy and how uncertainty and misinformation have influenced the Australian experience of the COVID-19 pandemic. Written by award-winning science journalist Dyani Lewis, this is the second book in The Crikey Read series by Crikey and Hardie Grant Books. 

Anti-vax protests, the 'scamdemic', disproven home how did we get here? The realities of lockdowns and the erosion of trust in government and authority have fed into a small but significant history of anti-vaxxing in Australia that has found unlikely bedfellows in the QAnon conspiracy cult, white supremacy movements and the wellness community. The genie is out of the bottle – what do we do now? Do vaccine mandates work, or do they simply hasten the erosion of trust and the spread of different kinds of ‘truth’ on the subject of vaccines? And what is the actual first-hand human fallout from vaccine refusal for families split over the issue?

Interweaving personal experience and first-hand narratives from those on the frontlines alongside smart, perceptive and compassionate commentary on the scientific and sociocultural effects of vaccine misinformation, Unvaxxed plots a sorely needed way forward for Australia in 2022.

From Crikey and Hardie Grant Books, The Crikey Read is a series that brings an unflinching and truly independent eye to the issues of the day in Australia and the world.

 

Genres: Nonfiction

122 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 1, 2022

Reviews

[Turtle Head · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I am pro vax.

Shallow political analysis, unreferenced claims (for example that one develops a level of ongoing immunity post covid infection), and a simplistic conclusion that circles it all back to a lack of individual trust in government and the need to take each other's concerns seriously.

The author's snipey mentions of his mother (even calling her crazy at one point) did not help the readability of this very average pop journalism one bit.

[Saara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Factual, level-headed discussion around why people may choose to eschew vaccinations, and the contemporary link between vaccination hesitancy and: trust in authorities and/or authentic experts.

[sima · Rating 3 out of 5]

there’s not really much to say on this book except that it did provide some insight into the thinking behind antivaxxers during covid. lewis’ use of their mum as a continuing anecdote was really relatable, as we all have that one family member that’s too far down the rabbit hole…