Navigating Non-Invitation: Pro-Vaccine Choice Communities Amidst Exclusion and Public Participation

Between 2017 and 2021, specific health policy concerning vaccination in Italy contributed to the “non‐invitation” of pro-vaccine choice communities to decision‐making processes and public services with significant consequences for their societal life. This situation led to the emergence of new, often barely visible, participatory pathways. This article aims to examine the dynamics of exclusion and participation of pro‐vaccine choice communities in Italy, adopting a science and technology studies (STS) framework that allows us to explore how non‐invitation and participation are deeply entangled. Through digital ethnography and interviews, we investigate how individuals and communities navigate “non-invitation” and seek alternative avenues for participation. We observe their efforts to contest compulsory vaccination policies and legitimize their claims through political representation and independent scientific research. Despite facing stigmatization and marginalization, they employ vari...