The National Anti-Vaccination League was founded in 1866 in Britain, growing from earlier smaller organizations in London, originally under the title Anti-Compulsory Vaccination League. The organisation opposed compulsory vaccination, particularly against smallpox. It was part of a wider anti-vaccinationist movement, arguing that vaccination did more harm than good.
After the death of Richard B. Gibbs in 1871, the Anti-Compulsory Vaccination League underwent various changes until 1876 when it was revived under the leadership of Mary Hume-Rothery and the Rev. W. Hume-Rothery. In 1880 the movement was enlarged and reorganised by the formation of "The London Society for the Abolition of Compulsory Vaccination," and an office was opened in Victoria Street, Westminster, with William Young as secretary. The "Vaccination Inquirer", established by William Tebb in 1879, was adopted as the organ of the Society. A series of fourteen "Vaccination Tracts" was begun by Young in 1877 and completed by Garth Wilkinson in 1879. The movement grew, and as the influence of the London Society overshadowed the Hume-Rotherys and it took the national lead, it was decided in February 1896 to re-form the Society as "The National Anti-Vaccination League." In 1921 the following objective was added:— and vindication of the legitimate freedom of the subject in matters of medical treatment. In June 1867, the publication "Human Nature" campaigned against "The Vaccination Humbug". It reported that many petitions had been presented to Parliament against Compulsory Vaccination, and many from parents who alleged that their children had died through the operation, and complained that these petitions had not been made public. The journal reported the formation of an Anti- Compulsory Vaccination League "To overthrow this huge piece of physiological absurdity and medical tyranny, and quoted Richard Gibbs, who ran the Free Hospital at the same address as stating "I believe we have hundreds of cases here, from being poisoned with vaccination, I deem incurable. One member of a family dating syphilitic symptoms from the time of vaccination, when all the other members of the family have been clear. We strongly advise parents to go to prison, rather than submit to have their helpless offspring inoculated with scrofula, syphilis, and mania." The 1900 Labour Party General Election Manifesto contained a commitment to "No Compulsory Vaccination".
Publications of The National Anti-Vaccination League
1957, Is Mass Vaccination with B.C.G. always warranted in the Scandinavian Countries?
1904, The Story of the Vaccination Crusade in Hackney & Stoke Newington, 1902–1904, and what came of it. The cases of John Polley, William Pitt, and others, with an account of the action-at-law Polley v. Fordham., Burton, John Francis. Hackney Union Branch of the National Anti-Vaccination League: London.
1902, What about Vaccination, Milnes, Alfred. With other contributions. National Anti-Vaccination League: Westminster.
1902, Smallpox at Middlesbrough. A reply to Dr. Dingle's Reports... 2nd edition, rev. by Biggs, John Thomas pp. 24.
1902, Smallpox at Gloucester. A reply to Dr. Coupland's Report by Walter Hadwen. Reprinted from “The Reformer,” National Anti-Vaccination League: Gloucester
1901, Vaccination a Delusion, Alfred Russel Wallace. Chapter 28 of The Wonderful Century
1901, An Italian Indictment of Vaccination., Carlo Ruata. Public address given at the opening of the session of the University of Perugia, November, 1898. Translated from the Italian. National Anti-Vaccination League: London
Publications of Lily Loat
1951, The Truth About Vaccination and Immunization
1939, Pasteurization of milk : The case against compulsion
