The new Italian mandatory vaccine Law as a health policy instrument against the anti-vaccination movement

In Italy, the Parliament granted recently the final approval to a law introducing a long list of childhood vaccinations mandatory for preschool and school-age children. Before the approval, a vibrant public debate took place on the traditional media, in the social networks and among policy-makers because of the so called "anti-vaccination movement". In this paper, we discuss about ethical aspects and relationship between individual rights and public health. The role of social networks and the Internet is also essential to disseminate correct informations, influencing health behaviours and contributing to educating people about this major public health issue in a right way. Finally, new and specific educational programmes are needed in order to transmit the young generation the means to correctly understand scientific research about this controversial issue.