Vaccine hesitancy: Definition, scope and determinants

TLDR

Vaccine hesitancy is defined as a delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccination despite availability, and is complex, context‑specific, and influenced by complacency, convenience, and confidence. The Vaccine Hesitancy Determinants Matrix categorizes influencing factors into contextual, individual/group, and vaccine‑specific influences that shape the decision to accept, delay, or reject vaccines.

Abstract

The SAGE Working Group on Vaccine Hesitancy concluded that vaccine hesitancy refers to delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccination despite availability of vaccination services. Vaccine hesitancy is complex and context specific, varying across time, place and vaccines. It is influenced by factors such as complacency, convenience and confidence. The Working Group retained the term 'vaccine' rather than 'vaccination' hesitancy, although the latter more correctly implies the broader range of immunization concerns, as vaccine hesitancy is the more commonly used term. While high levels of hesitancy lead to low vaccine demand, low levels of hesitancy do not necessarily mean high vaccine demand. The Vaccine Hesitancy Determinants Matrix displays the factors influencing the behavioral decision to accept, delay or reject some or all vaccines under three categories: contextual, individual and group, and vaccine/vaccination-specific influences.