Vaccine hesitancy can be linked to a lack of perceived necessity1-3
Dealing with diminished prioritization
Have you encountered parents who question the value of certain vaccines for their children, their community, or themselves?
HCPs may often encounter parents who refuse vaccinations for their children because they feel vaccines are no longer necessary.1-3
The approaches in the following scenarios may help you explain how vaccines help protect against disease.4
What hesitancy sounds like…
“Why does my child need this vaccine? It’s not required by our school.”
Parent:
“Why does my child need this vaccine? It’s not required by our school.”
HCP:
“Vaccination laws for schools are established by individual states, so they may look different from what the CDC and the medical community recommend.5,6 Is there a particular concern I can help clarify?”
Patient:
“I just don’t want to give my child something that isn’t necessary.”
HCP:
“I can understand why you feel that way. Even though our state isn’t requiring this vaccine for school, it can help protect your child from the risks of this disease.”
You may also be hearing…
“The disease that vaccine deals with isn’t relevant to my child in this community.”
Parent:
“The disease that vaccine deals with isn’t relevant to my child in this community.”
HCP:
“I am so grateful that many of the diseases we vaccinate against are no longer a major problem in the United States. But that’s largely because of our vaccination efforts.7
Unfortunately, we are starting to see an increase in vaccine-preventable diseases, such as [X], in children who are unvaccinated.8-10
We want to make sure your child is vaccinated before they’re exposed.”
“I didn’t know he needed 3 shots today. That seems like a lot!”
Parent:
“I didn’t know he needed 3 shots today. That seems like a lot!”
HCP:
“I’m sorry we didn’t talk about this more during our last visit. What worries you about vaccinating today?”
Parent:
“Well, they don’t all seem necessary to me. I didn’t get some of these vaccines and I was fine.”
HCP:
“I see why you would think that. But vaccines are an important part of helping to protect the health of our children.11
We’re lucky. Unlike our parents, we don’t have to stay up at night worrying about diseases like polio.7,11 That’s because the majority of kids are vaccinated.12
Vaccines do often cause mild side effects that go away quickly on their own and yes, serious side effects can occur… but they are rare.13
When a vaccine is delayed, children are vulnerable to certain diseases that they may encounter.13
There are no data to show that spacing out vaccines is safer or more effective than following the CDC recommendations.”13
aNote: Providing childhood vaccination data from your own practice or geographic area may make this statement more impactful.
Explore other scenarios and strategies for overcoming vaccine hesitancy.
Safety concerns/general mistrust:
“How do I know vaccines are safe?”
Learn more:
The science behind the strategies
Lack of information:
“How do I know which vaccines I need/my child needs?”
All scenarios:
Download a comprehensive PDF
References
- Nabet B, Gable J, Eder J, Feemster K. Addressing vaccine hesitancy to protect children and communities against preventable diseases. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; PolicyLab 2017. Accessed August 9, 2023. https://policylab.chop.edu/sites/default/files/pdf/publications/Addressing_Vaccine_Hesitancy.pdf.
- Hough-Telford C, Kimberlin DW, Aban I, et al. Vaccine delays, refusals, and patient dismissals: a survey of pediatricians. Pediatrics. 2016;138(3):e20162127. doi:10.1542/peds.2016-2127
- Hyle EP, Rao SR, Jentes ES, et al. Missed opportunities for measles, mumps, rubella vaccination among departing U.S. adult travelers receiving pretravel health consultations. Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(2):77-84. doi:10.7326/M16-2249
- Smith MJ. Promoting vaccine confidence. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2015;29(4):759-769. doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2015.07.004
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommended child and adolescent immunization schedule for ages 18 years or younger, United States, 2024. Updated February 29, 2024. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/child-adolescent.html
- Immunize.org. Hepatitis A vaccine requirements for childcare and school (Kg-Gr12). Updated August 4, 2023. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://www.immunize.org/laws/hepa.asp
- Talbird SE, Carrico J, La EM, et al. Impact of routine childhood immunization in reducing vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States. Pediatrics. 2022;150(3):e2021056013. doi:10.1542/peds.2021-056013
- American Academy of Pediatrics. Red book online outbreaks: measles. Published March 19, 2024. Accessed March 19, 2024. https://publications.aap.org/redbook/resources/15187/Red-Book-Online-Outbreaks-Measles?autologincheck=redirected
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Person-to-person outbreaks of hepatitis A across the United States. Published February 2, 2024. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/outbreaks/2017March-HepatitisA.htm
- Havers FP, Moro PL, Hariri S, Skoff T. Pertussis. In: Hall E, Wodi AP, Hamborsky J, Morelli V, Schillie S, eds. Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (Pink Book). 14th ed. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2021: Chapter 16. Reviewed October 19, 2022. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/pert.html
- US Department of Health and Human Services. Five important reasons to vaccinate your child. Reviewed May 6, 2022. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://www.hhs.gov/immunization/get-vaccinated/for-parents/five-reasons/index.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Immunization. Reviewed June 13, 2023. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/immunize.htm
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preparing for questions parents may ask about vaccines. Reviewed April 11, 2018. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/conversations/preparing-for-parent-vaccine-questions.html