Epidemiology of vaccine hesitancy in the United States

Vaccines are some of if not the most successful public health endeavors ever put into practice. Countless lives have been saved and the occurrences of vaccine preventable diseases are at a fraction of the rate experienced before vaccines. Vaccines and the realization of their compulsory scheduling are highly studied, safe, and purposeful. Despite these realities, there are an alarming number of parents who do not permit the vaccination of their children as scheduled. This is known in the health community as vaccine hesitancy and commonly portrayed in popular media as anti-vaccination sediment. This analysis opens with the topic as it was addressed during a September 2015 debate for the Republic Party's 2016 presidential nomination. Some key historical aspects of vaccine hesitancy are presented. This history leads to a description of the 2014-2015 measles outbreak in California. The factors that aide in the recruitment of under vaccination are then explored. Finally, select strategies to control, combat, and potentially attenuate vaccine hesitancy are presented.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vaccine hesitancy: More than a movement

Callender

2016

“…[10][11] While economic and structural factors affect receipt of recommended childhood immunizations, [12][13][14] vaccine-related confidence is believed to play a significant and perhaps growing role in parents' vaccine decision making and behavior. [15][16][17][18][19] In 2013, such concern prompted the Assistant Secretary for Health to ask the National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) to assess how confidence affects childhood vaccination in the US 20 Also in 2013, the World Health Organization's (WHO) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) Working Group on Vaccine Hesitancy identified confidence as one of 3 domains related to vaccine hesitancy (with convenience and complacency being the other 2). [21][22] Vaccine hesitancy was recognized as occurring when an individual or parent delays or refuses to accept a recommended vaccine that is otherwise accessible and available.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parents' confidence in recommended childhood vaccinations: Extending the assessment, expanding the context

Nowak

Cacciatore

2016

There has been significant and growing interest in vaccine hesitancy and confidence in the United States as well as across the globe. While studies have used confidence measures, few studies have provided indepth assessments and no studies have assessed parents' confidence in vaccines in relationship to other frequently recommended health-related products for young children. This study used a nationally representative sample of 1000 US parents to identify confidence levels for recommended vaccinations, antibiotics, over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, and vitamins for children. The analyses examined associations between confidence ratings, vaccination behaviors and intentions, and trust in healthcare provider, along with associations between confidence ratings and use of the other health-related products. Parents' confidence in vaccines was relatively high and high relative to antibiotics, OTC medicines and vitamins. For all 4 health-related products examined, past product experience and knowledge of bad or adverse outcomes negatively impacted parents' confidence levels. Confidence levels were associated with both trust in advice from their child's healthcare provider and acceptance of healthcare provider recommendations. Parents in some groups, such as those with lower income and education levels, were more likely to have less confidence not just in vaccines, but also in antibiotics and OTC medicines for children. Overall, the findings extend understanding of vaccine confidence, including by placing it into a broader context.

“…18 Therefore, this study's primary goal is to explore the factors that contribute to HBV-related discrimination. Vaccines are one of the most useful public health interventions for combating infectious diseases, 19 and the hepatitis B vaccine is the most effective prevention for HBV infection. 20 As such, we also sought to assess whether people who had received the hepatitis B vaccination might exhibit lower levels of HBV-related discrimination.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hepatitis B-related knowledge and vaccination in association with discrimination against Hepatitis B in rural China

Wang

Zhu

et al. 2015

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a challenging public-health issue in China. Hepatitis B carriers and patients suffer not only physically but also experience strong discrimination and stigma. China's rural population is 629 million. Thus, there is a great need to understand the situation surrounding HBV-related discrimination in everyday life in rural China. We studied 6,538 participants (18 y old) from 42 villages across 7 provinces (districts). Many studies have addressed discrimination against those with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). However, few studies have addressed HBV-related discrimination. We found that the fear of HBV infection, not lack of knowledge about it, predominantly leads to HBV-related discrimination (although limited knowledge is also a cause). Notably, receiving the HBV vaccination contributes to reduced discrimination. In addition, the existence of fewer misunderstandings about false HBV transmission routes plays a more important role in discrimination than does understanding of true HBV transmission routes. Therefore, to reduce HBV-related discrimination, policy makers should consider eliminating HBV-related fear, strengthening adult HBV immunization programs, developing large-scale education dissemination about HBV transmission routes and non-transmission routes, and paying greater attention to target populations.