Measuring Vaccine Confidence: Introducing a Global Vaccine Confidence Index

• DOI: 10.1371/currents.outbreaks.ce0f6177bc97332602a8e3fe7d7f7cc4
• Publication Date: 2015-02-25T18:46:50Z
• Authors: Heidi J Larson; William S Schulz; Joseph D Tucker; David M D Smith
• Keywords: Low Confidence; Global Health

Background.Public confidence in vaccination is vital to the success of immunisation programmes worldwide.Understanding dynamics vaccine therefore great importance for global public health.Few published studies permit comparisons sentiments and behaviours against a common metric.This article presents findings multi-country survey vaccines Georgia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, United Kingdom (UK) -these being first results larger project map globally.Methods.Data were collected from sample general population those with children under 5 years old core set questions.All surveys conducted relevant local-language UK.We examine as compared other government health services, relationships between system levels hesitancy, reasons ultimate decisions, their variation based on country contexts demographic factors.Results.The numbers respondents by were: Georgia (n=1000); India (n=1259); Pakistan (n=2609); UK (n=2055); Nigerian households (n=12554); providers (n=1272).The five age more likely hesitate vaccinate, countries.Confidence was closely associated broader (Spearman's ρ=0.5990), Nigeria (ρ=0.5477),Pakistan (ρ=0.4491), (ρ=0.4240),all which ranked higher than system.Georgia had highest rate refusals (6 %) among who reported initial hesitation.In all countries surveyed most hesitating vaccinate went receive except Kano state, where percentage ultimately refused after initially high 76%) Reported hesitancy classified domains "confidence," "convenience," or "complacency," issues found be primary driver surveyed.