Vaccine hesitancy: understanding better to address better. Issue 1 (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kumar, Dewesh; Chandra, Rahul; Mathur, Medha; Samdariya, Saurabh; Kapoor, Neelesh
• Is Part Of: Israel journal of health policy research. Volume 5:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 8
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Vaccine hesitancy -- Vaccine confidence -- Vaccine decision making -- Vaccination; Health -- Research -- Israel -- Periodicals; Health -- Research -- Periodicals; Health planning -- Israel -- Periodicals; Health planning -- Periodicals; Medical policy -- Israel -- Periodicals; Medical policy -- Periodicals; Health Policy -- Israel -- Periodicals; Research -- Israel -- Periodicals; 362.1072095694
• DOI: 10.1186/s13584-016-0062-y
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2045-4015

Abstract

Abstract Vaccine hesitancy is an emerging term in the socio-medical literature which describes an approach to vaccine decision making. It recognizes that there is a continuum between full acceptance and outright refusal of some or all vaccines and challenges the previous understanding of individuals or groups, as being either anti-vaccine or pro-vaccine. The behaviours responsible for vaccine hesitancy can be related to confidence, convenience and complacency. The causes of vaccine hesitancy can be described by the epidemiological triad i.e. the complex interaction of environmental- (i.e. external), agent- (i.e. vaccine) and host (or parent)- specific factors. Vaccine hesitancy is a complex and dynamic issue; future vaccination programs need to reflect and address these context-specific factors in both their design and evaluation. Many experts are of the view that it is best to counter vaccine hesitancy at the population level. They believe that it can be done by introducing more transparency into policy decision-making before immunization programs, providing up-to-date information to the public and health providers about the rigorous procedures undertaken before introduction of new vaccines, and through diversified post-marketing surveillance of vaccine-related events.