Exploring Vaccine Hesitancy

Abstract

According to the World Health Organization, the coverage of vaccine-preventable diseases rests at 86% with nearly 20 million children worldwide who have not received basic vaccines. Vaccine-hesitant individuals are a heterogeneous group who hold varying degrees of indecision about specific vaccines or vaccination in general. Vaccine hesitancy is a behavior influenced by several factors including issues of confidence, complacency, and convenience. In countries where access is not the main issue for lack of vaccination, there are many cultural influences that affect the decision for parents to seek vaccination for their children or themselves. Media and social media can create a negative or positive vaccine sentiment and can provide a platform for lobbies and key opinion leaders to influence others. Community leaders and influencers, including religious leaders in some settings, celebrities in others, can all have a significant influence on vaccine acceptance or hesitancy. Vaccine mandates can provoke vaccine hesitancy not necessarily because of safety or other concerns, but due to resistance to the notion of forced vaccination. Lastly, the pharmaceutical industry may be distrusted and influence vaccine hesitancy when perceived as driven only by financial motives and not by public health interest. This can extend to distrust in government when perceived that it also is being pushed by industry and is not transparent. When working with patients faced with the decision of whether vaccination will be undertaken, it is imperative to understand the cultural, ethical, and legal implications that may affect their decision. Working from a place of understanding and acceptance of various views and beliefs about vaccination, nurses can be better advocates for the wishes of their patients.