Insights from public health: A framework for understanding and fostering vaccine acceptance

Abstract

Achieving and maintaining high immunization rates requires high vaccine acceptance. Most parents or members of a targeted population need to believe in the value and benefits associated with an immunization recommendation and understand the basis for the recommendation. This puts forward a framework for understanding and fostering vaccine acceptance. Drawing upon published studies, the framework identifies six categories of cognitive factors that affect vaccine acceptance: vaccination recommendation awareness and knowledge; assumptions, expectations, and understanding; risk-related beliefs and perceptions; benefit-related beliefs and perceptions; beliefs and perceptions regarding vaccination recommendations; and confidence/trust related to the vaccine, immunization recommendation and health professionals, including government health officials. Along with examining how these categories can impact vaccine acceptance, the framework links them to a vaccine acceptance continuum that ranges from vaccine refusal to strong vaccine acceptance. The overall framework provides the basis for identifying strategies and approaches to achieve or extend vaccine acceptance.