Perceptions of vaccine safety in a global context

Abstract

Given the serious consequences of low vaccine coverage, concerns and misconceptions need to be taken seriously and responded to appropriately to sustain accomplishments of immunization programmes. For parental decisions related to childhood vaccinations, it seems reasonable to assume that the cultural context of the immunization programme is of importance. This article is a short review of some recent studies of parental decision-making on vaccination in developed countries Kazaktstan, Uzbekistan and Northern Nigeria. Furthermore, an attempt is made to relate the findings in these studies to theoretical models of parental decision-making.

Conclusion: For the implementation of immunization programmes, it is important to develop an in-depth understanding of mechanisms underlying decisions to accept or reject the vaccination of a child. Theoretical models may aid in the understanding of these mechanisms.