Béziers University of Technology

Lecture by Laurent-Henri Vignaud

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Thursday, November 6, 2025 – 6:00 p.m. at the Béziers University Institute of Technology

Is anti-vaccination a right-wing or left-wing movement? A political history of vaccination and its opponents (19th–21st centuries)


Laurent-Henri Vignaud isa French historian specializing in the history of science. A lecturer at the University of Burgundy Europe and a researcher at LIR3S (Societies, Sensibilities, Care), he studies representations of progress, debates surrounding science, and critiques of technological innovations. His work focuses on the connections between science, society, and politics, particularly on the forms of mistrust or rejection sparked by technological advances. He is also the co-author of several books that analyze narratives of progress and their critiques in public discourse.

Is anti-vaccination a right-wing or left-wing issue?

Since the invention of variolation and later vaccination in the 19th century, this form of preventive medicine has been the subject of criticism. These criticisms are more diverse than one might think and have persisted from one era to the next, adapting to different economic, social, and political contexts. Political arguments against “vaccine tyranny” are not the latest and span various political currents, from the right to the left. This lecture traces these fault lines from the debate against smallpox vaccination to the current debate over COVID-19 vaccines.

This conference is organized in partnership with the Béziers chapter of the League for Human Rights and the Association of History and Geography Teachers of Languedoc-Roussillon. It is open to anyone interested in contemporary political issues and matters related to public health policy.

Practical information:

  • Thursday, November 6, 2025, 6:00 p.m. at the IUT in Béziers
  • Topic of the lecture and discussion:Is anti-vaccination a right-wing or left-wing movement? A political history of vaccination and its opponents (19th–21st centuries)

    Free lecture, open to all, no registration required.