Parents' Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Vaccinating Their Children

Parents' knowledge and attitudes towards vaccinating their children

Introduction Vaccines administered in childhood save 2-3 million lives globally each year. They have contributed substantially to the decline in infant morbidity and mortality rates over time and represent the most cost-effective method of reducing childhood illness.

A high vaccination rate among the population protects both those who have received the vaccine and those who have not, through the phenomenon of herd immunity. Maintaining protection plays an important role in the development of the paediatric population. Early childhood infections can affect the growth and development of children, impacting the health and cognitive abilities of future adults. Although vaccines reduce morbidity and mortality, many parents do not vaccinate their children. In developing countries, the main causes of non-vaccination are low socio-economic status, poor parental education and limited access to medical services. On the other hand, in more developed countries, parents, despite having easy access to vaccines and information, choose not to vaccinate their children.

In order to increase vaccination rates, it is necessary to understand where parents' beliefs come from. Parents' refusal to vaccinate their children has been associated with: the costs involved in the vaccination process, fear of adverse effects, both immediate and long-term, the belief that vaccines are ineffective, and various attitudes. These include: lack of trust in the state authorities responsible for implementing vaccination programmes, religious conflicts, and the idea of over stimulating the child's immune system with "too many vaccines".

Recently, a decisive factor has emerged that influences parents' opinions: social media. Studies conducted to date have shown the impact of anti-vaccine content posted online on the decline in vaccination rates.