THE VACCINE HESITANCY - THE NEW PLAGUE OF THE 21ST CENTURY

Abstract

For the first time in 2019, the World health organization (WHO) anked non-vaccination among the top 10 threats to humanity. Immunprevention, initiated by E. Jenner in 1796, became one of the greatest achievements of medicine, which nowadays annually prevents up to 3 million human deaths. Despite this fact, in recent years, society is increasing anti-vaccination sentiment, frequent cases of refusal of vaccination. The population’s attitude to vaccination has been analyzed and the main reasons for its rejection have been identified. By means of anonymous online survey the study involved 954 participant in the age range from 18 to 70 years. Participants have different levels of education, live throughout Russia and make decisions for themselves and for children in the matter of vaccination. The widespread lack of information about the purpose of the vaccination, its complications and the vaccine controlled infection have been indicated. Actually, mothers are most vulnerable to doubts about their children’s vaccination - 115 women give up all vaccinations. Many respondents (59 respondents) point to distrust of doctors as a reason for refusal of vaccination. More over, adults are not aware of the need for revaccination at all. There are a significant lack of health education and public distrust of health workers. Finally, methods to increase the population’s commitment to vaccination have been developed, aimed to overcome unfounded fears about vaccination and to improve the status of health workers.