Abstract
Understanding the determinants of vaccine hesitancy is paramount to reinstate confidence in immunizations. The objective of this investigation was to explore the characteristics of the vaccination decision-making process that may result in the refusal of childhood immunization in Peru, during February-June 2020. A descriptive, cross-sectional study involving telephone interviews was executed in Peru. The Parents Attitudes about Childhood Vaccines (PACV) survey was used. A demographic analysis was done, followed by an unadjusted exploratory subgroup analysis. Out of 552 subjects, 9.8% were considered vaccine hesitant, 70.3% had purposively delayed vaccination, 88.4% thought fewer vaccines were better and 52.2% were concerned about vaccine safety. The level of hesitancy was inversely proportional to the level of education and the number of children at home. Mothers and subjects aged ≤29 years showed a greater level of vaccine hesitancy. This population displays a vaccine-hesitant conduct. Vaccine safety and the number of vaccines to administer are important determining factors. This behavior could be influenced by variables such as level of education, number of children at home, parental relationship, and age. These results help understand local vaccination behaviors. More studies are encouraged to confirm and validate these findings.
Highlights
Vaccines have greatly contributed to the control and eradication of diseases around the world [1]
Most of the evidence depicting vaccine hesitancy comes from developed countries, limiting the extrapolation that can be done in the context of developing economies. This is the case for Peru [4], a country that is beginning to see the effects of vaccine hesitancy in its population. In accordance with this important scientific gap, the aim of this research was to investigate the characteristics of the vaccination decision-making process that may result in the refusal of childhood immunization in Peru
The objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics of the vaccination decision-making process that may result in the refusal of childhood immunization in parents from Lima, Peru, during the months of February-June 2020
Summary
Vaccines have greatly contributed to the control and eradication of diseases around the world [1]. Individuals or groups that display a defiant conduct against vaccines are called anti-vaccines, vaccine refusers, or anti-vaxers [2]. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) defines individuals with vaccine hesitancy as those who “...delay the acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite availability of vaccines services” [3]. They are essentially, a group of individuals with forgiving doubt and skepticism, yet not rejection. Vaccine hesitancy has hindered historic public health efforts [2]
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