An Informed Approach to Vaccine Hesitancy and Uptake in Children

The tremendous success of vaccination programs worldwide over the past two centuries has produced a paradoxical effect whereby a lack of exposure to the devastating consequences of vaccine-preventable diseases has created an environment in which fear of the side effects of vaccines can overshadow concerns about the impact of the diseases they are meant to prevent. As vaccine hesitancy grew over the past twenty years, states passed legislation, such as non-medical exemptions from vaccination, that have cultivated pockets of poor vaccine uptake allowing for the return of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and pertussis. The COVID-19 pandemic has further intensified mistrust of vaccines, impacting both the reasons for vaccine hesitancy and the attributes of vaccine hesitant parents. Because unimmunized children are at increased risk for vaccine-preventable diseases and associated cancers, as well as reduced access to adequate healthcare, they are a particularly vulnerable population warranting special protections and support. A comprehensive approach to combat vaccine hesitancy and promote uptake should include a focus on evidence-based initiatives at the legislative, practice, and provider levels. These strategies can substantively inform health policy, from upstream legislation strengthening school mandates and eliminating non-medical exemptions to downstream policies that impact provider conversations about immunization.