Vaccine hesitancy

While vaccines have gained significant public attention thanks to their instrumental role in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, they have contributed to global health for decades. The value of vaccination is well established – for public health and for the economy. And yet, Europe is one of the most vaccine hesitant continents in the world. 

Vaccine hesitancy is complex and context-specific, varying across time, place and vaccines. It is influenced by factors such as complacency, confidence, constraint, calculation, and collective responsibility[1] [2]. Vaccine hesitancy refers to delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccination despite availability of vaccination services. It threatens to reverse progress made in tackling vaccine-preventable diseases and is one of the most serious threats to global health[3]

The latest report on the state of vaccine confidence in the EU revealed that the gains in vaccine confidence seen in 2020 have largely been lost in 2022. Another study also suggests that vaccine confidence has significantly declined since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic[4].  

 
Vaccine hesitancy is a multi-factorial phenomenon, which requires research to understand it and identify workable and bespoke solutions. There have been significant advances made in this field and now is the time to implement concrete actions locally to address this major public health threat.  

On top of our key role in the R&D and manufacturing of high-quality and safe vaccines, we are communicating and collaborating to maintain and grow confidence in vaccination, by supporting vaccination confidence campaigns, initiatives to advance understanding the role of social media and behavioural sciences, and other research, communication and engagement projects.  

We recognise the need for an independent and credible source of information about vaccines for the general public. This is why in 2011 (following the 2009 H1N1 pandemic), Vaccines Europe supported the establishment of Vaccines Today, an online platform for discussing vaccines and vaccination, in a fair and unbiased way. Its content is produced through interviews with experts from academia, patient groups, and industry experts, along with reports based on scientific literature and conferences. Vaccines Today is certified by the World Health Organization’s Vaccine Safety Net. Furthermore, Vaccines Europe actively engages in initiatives aimed to strengthen vaccine confidence such as #TeamVaccines

We are engaged with Business Partner to CONVINCE, a global movement of employers of all sizes that seeks to build vaccine confidence and support uptake among employees. 

The vaccines industry has a unique public-health centred mission: to drive a sustainable and resilient vaccines environment in Europe, protecting people against infectious diseases at all stages of life. The vaccines ecosystem is complex, and there is no place for silos – collaboration at all levels is key to tackle vaccine hesitancy.  

Related Materials

Team Vaccines

More information

Vaccines Today website

State of vaccine confidence in the EU 2022

Siani A & Tranter A (2022) Is vaccine confidence an unexpected victim of the COVID-19 pandemic? Vaccine 40:7262-7269

Team Vaccines by IFPMA

Business Partner to CONVINCE

European Vaccination Information Portal

European Medicines Agency

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control