A recent UNICEF report found over 67 million children missed out on one or more vaccinations in the past three years. The perception of children needing vaccines has declined in 52 out of 55 countries analyzed, declining by more than a third in Papua New Guinea, the Republic of Korea, Senegal, Ghana, and Japan following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The study also found the perceived importance of vaccines remained constant or improved only in Mexico, China, and India. In most nations, following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals under 35 were most likely to have the largest decrease in confidence regarding vaccines for children.
Additional data will be required for scientists to develop a clear understanding regarding if this data is indicative of a long-term trend, and how it may fluctuate as the COVID-19 pandemic slows down. Although data suggests adults’ confidence in vaccinating their children has declined, the overall support continues to remain strong. In almost half of the 55 countries studied, over 80% of adults still receive vaccines as being essential for children.
Factors that contribute to the increase in vaccine hesitancy include poor government response to the pandemic, growing access to misleading information, and declining trust in experts. The study serves as a warning to many countries that the threat of vaccine intolerance and hesitancy will likely continue growing. Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director stated, “At the height of the pandemic, scientists rapidly developed vaccines that saved countless lives. But despite this historic achievement, fear, and disinformation about all types of vaccines circulated as widely as the virus itself.”
Alarmingly, this decline in vaccine confidence is the largest in 30 years. The pandemic disrupted the vaccination status for millions of children around the world. It is crucial and necessary in preventing the next pandemic that parents choose to vaccinate their children.
by Justin Goldberg