Vaccine hesitancy has emerged as one of the biggest threats to global health, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the problem, according to a researcher. As the world focused its attention on combating the pandemic, routine healthcare, including childhood vaccination, was disrupted. This led to a decline in essential childhood immunizations in more than 100 countries, resulting in outbreaks of infectious diseases such as yellow fever, cholera, diphtheria, and polio.
While several factors contribute to this decline, such as limited supply and restricted access to services, vaccine hesitancy plays a critical role. In 2019, the World Health Organization recognized vaccine hesitancy as one of the top ten threats to global health, and its prevalence appears to have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although the pandemic has had significant consequences for global vaccination rates, there have been long-standing declines in vaccine coverage in some countries and for certain diseases. For instance, childhood vaccination coverage in England plateaued around 2011 and started declining from 2014.
During the pandemic, social distancing measures led to a decline in infectious diseases. However, as countries began easing restrictions, there was a resurgence in cases. The number of countries experiencing significant measles outbreaks rose by 50% between 2020-21 and 2022-23. Moreover, even countries with historically good vaccine coverage reported recent measles cases. Measles, a highly contagious disease, serves as a warning sign of potential outbreaks in areas with low vaccination coverage.
The convergence of reduced vaccine coverage, strained healthcare systems, and the return to pre-pandemic levels of social contact has created a perfect storm for infectious disease rates to rise. Vaccine hesitancy further exacerbates this issue.
A recent report from UNICEF reveals that confidence in childhood vaccines decreased in many countries during the pandemic. In South Africa and Japan, for instance, confidence in the importance of childhood vaccines dropped by approximately one-third. Even in countries like the US, where overall confidence remains relatively high, concerns over potential side effects have grown over the past few years.
To address vaccine hesitancy, it is crucial to understand its root causes. The three Cs model suggests that maximizing convenience and minimizing complacency by effectively communicating the risks of diseases are essential starting points. However, confidence is the critical component.
Misinformation and conspiracy theories spread through social media platforms and reduced trust in authorities have contributed to vaccine hesitancy. Dispelling misinformation is challenging, as false narratives can persist for years. For example, the debunked 1998 study linking MMR vaccines to autism continues to influence vaccine hesitancy today. This problem is evident not only in high-income countries like the US but also in less wealthy countries like Kyrgyzstan, where ordinary parents harbor concerns.
Vaccinations prevent millions of deaths annually, but the World Health Organization estimates that an additional 1.5 million deaths could be avoided with improved global vaccination coverage. Counteracting vaccine hesitancy is crucial in achieving this goal.
To increase confidence, strategies like inoculation or prebunking involve exposing individuals to small amounts of false information to enhance their critical assessment skills. Social media platforms can also play a role by promoting accurate information. Organizations like the WHO and UNICEF are central to building global confidence in vaccines.
Addressing vaccine hesitancy is essential not only to catch up on missed doses during the pandemic but also to combat misinformation. Failure to do so will perpetuate vaccine hesitancy, posing a significant threat to global health in the years to come.
