Paper short abstract:

Vaccination although emerged as a greatest scientific invention against microorganisms to decrease human morbidity and mortality. Nonetheless, it gradually has become a multifaceted and controversial phenomenon due to an ongoing complex interplay between universal and particular factors.

Paper long abstract:

To avert havoc wreaked by microorganisms, vaccination appeared as a greatest scientific invention. At a micro level, vaccination follows a universal approach that is attested by the United Nations and other global stakeholders in the form of certain directions, recommendations to their signatories to comply with and benchmarks to achieve. Also, vaccination, measles vaccine included, follows the similar principles which have been used to eradicate polio or smallpox. At a micro level, vaccination has gradually become a multifaceted and controversial phenomenon, as presently it is engulfed with rumours, conspiracies, mistrust and resistance, especially due to the enormous changes that have occurred over time particularly due to the sociocultural and ecopolitical characteristics of a country as well as disease-related specificity. In this regard, the internet has played a significant part as now the (mis)information travels with a higher velocity than before. As a result, there are more aware or 'ill' aware (than unaware) individuals. Hence, vaccination demonstrates a complex interplay between the universal approach and particular factors. However, ignoring the interplay while employing the universal approach and paying insufficient attention to the particularities has made serving the great cause of protecting humans from suffering rather problematic. This paper draws on my PhD fieldwork that focused on measles and vaccination in Sindh Province of Pakistan in 2014.