Vaccine hesitancy among U.S. parents: a mini review

Parental vaccine hesitancy in the United States continues to shape childhood immunization patterns and population-level disease prevention. Although extensive evidence demonstrates that vaccines are safe and effective, many parents base vaccination decisions on concerns about adverse reactions that extend beyond risk estimates derived from epidemiological data. Parents construct these interpretations through personal experiences with adverse reactions as well as through stories circulating within families, social networks, media, and online environments. This narrative mini review synthesizes interdisciplinary literature on parental vaccine hesitancy in the United States, focusing on how perceived and experienced adverse reactions influence attitudes toward childhood vaccination. The review examines contextual factors associated with hesitancy, including historical events, healthcare experiences, and interpretations of vaccine safety. By integrating public health research with parental vaccine perspectives, this review identifies gaps between population-level safety evidence and individual risk perception. Addressing these gaps offers opportunities to strengthen vaccine confidence, enhance public health communication, and support informed parental decision-making without exacerbating mistrust or polarization.