Pediatric Vaccine Hesitancy in the United States—The Growing Problem and Strategies for Management Including Motivational Interviewing
Vaccine hesitancy is a significant global issue and is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the most pressing threats to public health. Defined as the delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite their availability, vaccine hesitancy undermines decades of progress in pre...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Vaccines |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/2/115 |
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| author | Ashlesha Kaushik Julia Fomicheva Nathan Boonstra Elizabeth Faber Sandeep Gupta Helen Kest |
| author_facet | Ashlesha Kaushik Julia Fomicheva Nathan Boonstra Elizabeth Faber Sandeep Gupta Helen Kest |
| author_sort | Ashlesha Kaushik |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Vaccine hesitancy is a significant global issue and is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the most pressing threats to public health. Defined as the delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite their availability, vaccine hesitancy undermines decades of progress in preventing vaccine-preventable diseases. The issue is complex, influenced by misinformation, distrust in healthcare systems, cultural beliefs, and access barriers. These challenges require innovative and empathetic solutions to increase vaccine acceptance. Addressing this growing epidemic requires a multifaceted approach, which involves broader strategies and policymaking and in addition, effective communication tools for clinicians. Motivational Interviewing (MI), a patient-centered communication technique, offers an effective strategy to address pediatric vaccine hesitancy by fostering trust, understanding, and informed decision-making. This review aims to explore the problem of pediatric vaccine hesitancy in the United States, examine its underlying factors, and highlight evidence-based strategies, including Motivational Interviewing, to address this growing concern in clinical and public health settings. It offers practical guidance for healthcare providers and pediatricians to tackle this growing problem effectively and emphasizes the need for a combined effort of communication, community outreach, education, and systemic policy to overcome vaccine hesitancy. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-da593ddde1e843f4814ed1dc99f8cc8f |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-393X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Vaccines |
| spelling | doaj-art-da593ddde1e843f4814ed1dc99f8cc8f2025-08-20T03:12:01ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2025-01-0113211510.3390/vaccines13020115Pediatric Vaccine Hesitancy in the United States—The Growing Problem and Strategies for Management Including Motivational InterviewingAshlesha Kaushik0Julia Fomicheva1Nathan Boonstra2Elizabeth Faber3Sandeep Gupta4Helen Kest5Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Unity Point Health at St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, 2720 Stone Park Blvd, Sioux City, IA 51104, USADivision of Clinical Psychology, Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA), Harvard Medical School, 1493 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USADivision of General Pediatrics, Blank Children’s Hospital, 1215 Pleasant Street, Des Moines, IA 50309, USAIowa Immunizes Coalition and Iowa Public Health Association, 501 SW 7th Street, Ste G, Des Moines, IA 50309, USADivision of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Unity Point Health at St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center, 2720 Stone Park Blvd, Sioux City, IA 51104, USADivision of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, 703 Main Street, Paterson, NJ 07503, USAVaccine hesitancy is a significant global issue and is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the most pressing threats to public health. Defined as the delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite their availability, vaccine hesitancy undermines decades of progress in preventing vaccine-preventable diseases. The issue is complex, influenced by misinformation, distrust in healthcare systems, cultural beliefs, and access barriers. These challenges require innovative and empathetic solutions to increase vaccine acceptance. Addressing this growing epidemic requires a multifaceted approach, which involves broader strategies and policymaking and in addition, effective communication tools for clinicians. Motivational Interviewing (MI), a patient-centered communication technique, offers an effective strategy to address pediatric vaccine hesitancy by fostering trust, understanding, and informed decision-making. This review aims to explore the problem of pediatric vaccine hesitancy in the United States, examine its underlying factors, and highlight evidence-based strategies, including Motivational Interviewing, to address this growing concern in clinical and public health settings. It offers practical guidance for healthcare providers and pediatricians to tackle this growing problem effectively and emphasizes the need for a combined effort of communication, community outreach, education, and systemic policy to overcome vaccine hesitancy.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/2/115vaccine hesitancyvaccine acceptancestrategiespolicymotivational interviewing |
| spellingShingle | Ashlesha Kaushik Julia Fomicheva Nathan Boonstra Elizabeth Faber Sandeep Gupta Helen Kest Pediatric Vaccine Hesitancy in the United States—The Growing Problem and Strategies for Management Including Motivational Interviewing Vaccines vaccine hesitancy vaccine acceptance strategies policy motivational interviewing |
| title | Pediatric Vaccine Hesitancy in the United States—The Growing Problem and Strategies for Management Including Motivational Interviewing |
| title_full | Pediatric Vaccine Hesitancy in the United States—The Growing Problem and Strategies for Management Including Motivational Interviewing |
| title_fullStr | Pediatric Vaccine Hesitancy in the United States—The Growing Problem and Strategies for Management Including Motivational Interviewing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pediatric Vaccine Hesitancy in the United States—The Growing Problem and Strategies for Management Including Motivational Interviewing |
| title_short | Pediatric Vaccine Hesitancy in the United States—The Growing Problem and Strategies for Management Including Motivational Interviewing |
| title_sort | pediatric vaccine hesitancy in the united states the growing problem and strategies for management including motivational interviewing |
| topic | vaccine hesitancy vaccine acceptance strategies policy motivational interviewing |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/2/115 |
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