Multi-domain narrative review of vaccine hesitancy in childhood

Vaccine hesitancy, where individuals delay or refuse some or all vaccines, is a perennial problem. It undermines the success of the immunisation programmes and places the society, especially vulnerable populations such as children, at risk of contracting infectious diseases. The phenomenon has been extensively analysed based on four aspects - confidence, complacency, convenience and costs. We suggest the alternative use of a multi-dimensional framework adapted from the “Generalist Wheel of Knowledge, Understanding and Inquiry” that was developed by Prof Larry Green and Kurt Stange, to assess the multiple facilitators and barriers towards vaccine hesitancy in childhood vaccination. The framework identifies domains in the healthcare system namely the child and parent/family, the clinician, the healthcare system and policy, and the infectious disease and corresponding vaccine that influence vaccine hesitancy. This narrative review includes literature beyond those covered by the World health Organisation Global Vaccine Action Plan (WHO GVAP). It identifies emotional distress, past negative experience and misconceptions that contribute to vaccine hesitancy in children and family, while attitude and motivation underpin vaccine hesitancy in clinicians. The healthcare system contributes to vaccine hesitancy when enforcements, diligent monitoring and transparency are absent or lacking. Inefficient dissemination of information about the disease and its associated vaccine as well as inadequate surveillance of misinformation add to vaccine hesitancy. The inter-domain factors highlight the roles of relationship between the clinician, child and parent, information mastery of the clinician, prioritisation of resources and equity in combating vaccine hesitancy. Using this framework, we present evidence-based strategies which have been effective in mitigating vaccine hesitancy for each domain and their corresponding inter-domains. By providing new perspectives of a complex problem and its potential solutions, this narrative review aims to complement and support the WHO GVAP by developing a coordinated multi-domain strategy to mitigate vaccine hesitancy in childhood.