Social issue: Vaccine vs. Vegan

What is the problem?

On June 8, the famous creator of a cosmetic line Kat Von D said on Instagram that she was pregnant and she decided not to vaccinate her child because that was not vegan. It caused intense discussions in her comments. Some of her followers were also strict vegans and they totally support her decision, but more people argued that vaccine is one of the most effective ways to prevent diseases for her baby. This news also caused discussions among Chinese beauty fans on Weibo (a Chinese social media platform like Twitter), so I started to notice this problem. 

Recently, cosmetic brands start a new trend to convince that their products are vegan and cruelty-free. This action is reasonable that they can attract broader consumers and also support a more humane society. However, I don’t think it is suitable to go against modern medicine only because of this trend.

Why is it a problem?

1. For Kat Von D’s baby

In her post, she wrote that “This is my body. This is our child. And this is our pregnancy journey.” However, veganism is a personal choice. Kat has the right to be vegan but she can not simply make this decision for her child. If her baby gets any diseases which could be prevented by the vaccine, she will not be able to take this responsibility. It is very necessary to do lots of research about the vaccine and its possible consequences.

2. For her followers and other vegans

As a public figure, Kat’s words can influence numbers of people, especially her big fans. One comment mentioned this point: “…And then you used your influence to spread that ignorance. Vaccinations work. Which is why polio is a thing of the past”. This post divided her fans into two groups: keep following her vegan actions or argue against her and even boycott her products. Also, it may cause a negative impression of vegans.

Things to fix

Vegan bloggers and YouTubers talk about this issue a lot so people can know more information. It is better that people still want to discuss whether it is good or bad and to do more research by themselves.