Editing Naturopathy (section)

=== Vaccination ===
{{See also|Vaccine hesitancy}}
[[File:Measles US 1938-2019.png| alt=Cases of measles from 1938 to 1963 followed a highly variable epidemic pattern, with 150,000–850,000 cases reported per year. A sharp decline followed after the introduction of the first [[measles vaccine]] in 1963, with fewer than 25,000 cases reported in 1968. Outbreaks around 1971 and 1977 gave 75,000 and 57,000 cases, respectively. Cases were stable at a few thousand per year until an outbreak of 28,000 in 1990. Cases declined from a few hundred per year in the early 1990s to a few dozen in the 2000s. | thumb | [[Measles]] cases reported in the United States fell dramatically after the introduction of the measles vaccine.]]

Many naturopathy practitioners voice their opposition to vaccination. The reasons for this opposition are based, in part, on the early views which shaped the foundation of this occupation.<ref name="Ernst-2001">{{cite journal | vauthors = Ernst E | title = Rise in popularity of complementary and alternative medicine: reasons and consequences for vaccination | journal = Vaccine | volume = 20 Suppl 1 | issue = Suppl. 1, 5th European Conference on Vaccinology: A Safe Future with Vaccination | pages = S90-3; discussion S89 | date = October 2001 | pmid = 11587822 | doi = 10.1016/S0264-410X(01)00290-0 | author-link = Edzard Ernst }}</ref> A naturopathy textbook, co-authored by Joseph Pizzorno, recalls anti-vaccine beliefs associated with the founding of naturopathy in the United States: "a return to nature in regulating the diet, breathing, exercising, bathing and the employment of various forces" ''in lieu'' of the [[smallpox vaccine]].<ref>{{cite book| vauthors = Pizzorno JE, Murray MT |title=Textbook of Natural Medicine e-edition: Text with Continually Updated Online Reference, 2-Volume Set|date=2011|publisher=Elsevier|isbn=978-1-4557-0527-6|edition=third|quote=To understand how revolting these products are, let us just refer to the vaccine matter which is supposed to be an efficient preventive of smallpox. [...] The natural system for curing disease is based on a return to nature in regulating the diet, breathing, exercising, bathing and the employment of various forces to eliminate the poisonous products in the system, and so raise the vitality of the patient to a proper standard of health.|page=43}}</ref>

In general, evidence about associations between naturopathy and pediatric vaccination is sparse, but "published reports suggest that only a minority of naturopathic physicians actively support full vaccination".<ref name="Downey">{{cite journal | vauthors = Downey L, Tyree PT, Huebner CE, Lafferty WE | title = Pediatric vaccination and vaccine-preventable disease acquisition: associations with care by complementary and alternative medicine providers | journal = Maternal and Child Health Journal | volume = 14 | issue = 6 | pages = 922–930 | date = November 2010 | pmid = 19760163 | pmc = 2924961 | doi = 10.1007/s10995-009-0519-5 }} Quote is taken from introduction to paper, not from results of research presented in this paper.</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Herzog R, Álvarez-Pasquin MJ, Díaz C, Del Barrio JL, Estrada JM, Gil Á | title = Are healthcare workers' intentions to vaccinate related to their knowledge, beliefs and attitudes? A systematic review | journal = BMC Public Health | volume = 13 | pages = 154 | date = February 2013 | pmid = 23421987 | pmc = 3602084 | doi = 10.1186/1471-2458-13-154 | doi-access = free }}</ref> In Washington state from 2000 to 2003, children were significantly less likely to receive immunizations if they had seen a naturopath.<ref name="Downey" /> A survey of naturopathic students published in 2004 found that students at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine became less likely to recommend vaccinations to their patients and became more distrustful of public health and conventional medicine as they advanced in the program.<ref name="wilson" />

The British Columbia Naturopathic Association lists several major concerns regarding the pediatric vaccine schedule and vaccines in general,<ref>{{cite web|title=BCNA Vaccination Position Paper|url=http://www.bcna.ca/files_3/articles-vaccination.php|publisher=British Columbia Naturopathic Association|access-date=15 July 2014|archive-date=July 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140719051132/http://www.bcna.ca/files_3/articles-vaccination.php|url-status=live}}</ref> and the group's policy is to not advocate for or against vaccines.<ref>{{cite journal|vauthors=Brown H|title=Influenza Virus, Vaccination and Naturopathic Practice|journal=Naturopathic Doctor News and Review|date=21 December 2007|url=http://ndnr.com/nature-cure/influenza-virus-vaccination-and-naturopathic-practice/|access-date=20 October 2016|archive-date=January 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114003701/https://ndnr.com/nature-cure/influenza-virus-vaccination-and-naturopathic-practice/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Oregon Association of Naturopathic Physicians reports that many naturopaths "customize" the pediatric vaccine schedule.<ref>{{cite web|title=Naturopathic Primary Care|url=http://www.thelundreport.org/sites/default/files/u967/ND%20Primary%20Care%20in%20Oregon%20White%20Paper%20-%20Final.pdf|publisher=Oregon Association of Naturopathic Physicians|access-date=15 July 2014|archive-date=June 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614203253/http://www.thelundreport.org/sites/default/files/u967/ND%20Primary%20Care%20in%20Oregon%20White%20Paper%20-%20Final.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

As of April 25, 2022, a British Columbia government report found that 69.2% of naturopaths reported having received at least two COVID vaccines or receiving a medical exemption. This was much lower than all the other regulated medical professions in the report. The number for two professions{{snd}}dieticians and physicians/surgeons{{snd}}was 98%.<ref name="cbc-covid-vaccines">{{cite news |title=Naturopaths, chiropractors least vaccinated of all B.C. health professionals, province says |last1=Larsen |first1=Karin |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/naturopaths-chiropractors-least-vaccinated-1.6439886 |access-date=11 May 2022 |agency=CBC |date=10 May 2022}}</ref><ref name="bc-gov-vaccines">{{cite news |title=Data published on vaccination status of regulated health professions |url=https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2022HLTH0138-000737 |access-date=11 May 2022 |work=news.gov.bc.ca |agency=BC Gov News |date=10 May 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

{{as of|2016}}, the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, which is the largest professional organization for licensed naturopaths in the U.S., is "still discussing its stance on vaccinations".<ref name="Robins">{{cite news|vauthors=Robins R|title=Funded by vitamin makers, naturopaths push to expand in US|url=https://www.statnews.com/2016/05/17/naturopaths-go-mainstream/|access-date=18 May 2016|work=STAT|date=17 May 2016|archive-date=January 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114003710/https://www.statnews.com/2016/05/17/naturopaths-go-mainstream/|url-status=live}}</ref>