Unpacking the Root Causes and Consequences of Vaccine Hesitancy

This is part 2 of a 3-part vaccine series covering the potential of vaccines for infectious diseases, the impact of the antivaccination movement, and the promise of vaccines for cancer treatment.

In January 2019, vaccine hesitancy was named 1 of the top 10 threats to global health by the World Health Organization (WHO). According to WHO, addressing vaccine hesitancy requires not just an understanding of the magnitude of the problem, but also a diagnosis of the root causes, tailored evidence-based approaches to addressing hesitancy, and monitoring and evaluating the interventions.

To understand vaccine hesitancy, it’s also crucial to note that no single intervention will address the issue because there can be multiple interrelated determinants underlying vaccine hesitancy. This article explores some of the factors which have played an important role in the most recent wave of vaccine hesitancy.

Last modified: February 3, 2021

Language: English