Vaccine hesitant

Vaccine hesitancy refers to the delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite the availability of vaccination services. It is a complex and context-specific phenomenon varying across time, place, and vaccines. It is influenced by factors such as complacency, convenience, and confidence. The World Health Organization (WHO) identified vaccine hesitancy as one of the top ten global health threats in 2019.

Causes

Vaccine hesitancy can be driven by various factors:

• Complacency: When the perceived risks of vaccine-preventable diseases are low, and vaccination is not deemed a necessary preventive action.
• Convenience: Accessibility and ease of vaccination services can impact individuals' willingness to get vaccinated. This includes the availability of vaccines, the ability to understand and navigate health systems, and the time required for vaccination.
• Confidence: Trust in the effectiveness and safety of vaccines, the system that delivers them, including the reliability and competence of the health services and health professionals, and the motivations of policy-makers who decide on the needed vaccines.

Impact

Vaccine hesitancy has a significant impact on public health. It can lead to outbreaks of diseases that are otherwise preventable through vaccination. For example, hesitancy towards the measles vaccine has led to resurgences of measles in areas where it was previously under control or eliminated. This not only affects the unvaccinated individuals but also poses a risk to the broader community, especially those who cannot be vaccinated due to medical reasons and rely on herd immunity for protection.

Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy

Efforts to address vaccine hesitancy must be tailored to the specific concerns and contexts of the target populations. Strategies include:

• Providing reliable, evidence-based information about vaccines.
• Enhancing the convenience and accessibility of vaccination services.
• Building trust in vaccines, healthcare professionals, and the healthcare system.
• Engaging with communities to understand their concerns and hesitations.

See Also

• Vaccination policy
• Public health
• Herd immunity
• Immunization