Reactionary hostility to vaccines has existed for as long as vaccines have existed. The Wakefield hoax itself was part of an existing campaign by right wing British tabloids against vaccines generally. It basically goes in semi generational waves: people stop vaccinating to stick it to [insert reactionary enemy here], deaths spike from preventable disease, and eventually fear corrects the trend and herd immunity is repaired.
Reactionary hostility to vaccines has existed for as long as vaccines have existed. The Wakefield hoax itself was part of an existing campaign by right wing British tabloids against vaccines generally. It basically goes in semi generational waves: people stop vaccinating to stick it to [insert reactionary enemy here], deaths spike from preventable disease, and eventually fear corrects the trend and herd immunity is repaired.