All articles tagged with #vaccine hesitancy
Martha Lillard, the last U.S. polio patient to rely on an iron lung, died at 78 after decades of independence—driving a car, painting, and caring for beagles—highlighting polio's lasting legacy and renewed concerns about vaccine hesitancy and long COVID as potential factors in her death.
The piece argues that trust in science is not collapsing globally; surveys show middling to high trust, but confidence varies by country and group, with political polarization, perceived elitism, and rising vaccine hesitancy. It urges nuanced measures of trust, transparent communication about uncertainties, and greater public involvement in research priorities to address concerns and strengthen science’s link to society.
Pennsylvania’s largest measles outbreak in more than three decades is hampered by growing distrust of health professionals and falling vaccination rates, especially in Lancaster County where Amish and Mennonite communities are more likely to skip shots; health officials are tracing cases, urging vaccination, and warning that many infections may be underreported and can lead to serious complications.
Tetanus cases are rising in the U.S. but remain rare; most infections occur in unvaccinated or under‑vaccinated individuals. A recent JAMA viewpoint notes 2025 saw 33 cases (up from 18 in 2023), underscoring that tetanus is preventable through vaccination and boosters. Health experts urge sticking to the recommended schedule and getting boosters after injuries to avert a painful, potentially deadly disease.
A Johns Hopkins study of 2,970 U.S. adults finds that regular consumption of 'new right' media outlets is linked to more than double the likelihood of vaccine hesitancy, with hesitant individuals also more likely to rely on non-authoritative health sources and online influencers; the research notes physician information as a protective factor and calls for health communicators to address where people get vaccine information as measles cases rise.
Romania is driving the EU’s worst measles outbreak due to sharply falling vaccination rates, with 87% of 2024 EU cases there and gaps in the two-dose MMR schedule. Barriers such as poverty, medical deserts, bureaucratic hurdles and misinformation mean many children miss vaccines despite parental intent, prompting calls for expanded vaccination access and government commitment to public health to avert another surge.
CDC data show Hib vaccination rates fell from 78.8% in 2019 to 77.6% in 2021, prompting concerns that a potentially deadly bacterial infection could rise if hesitancy persists; Hib vaccines are highly effective (over 95%), and experts urge timely vaccination and awareness of household prophylaxis and treatment options for infected children.
Doctors warn that growing anti-science sentiment and medical mistrust are prompting some parents to refuse routine newborn preventive measures beyond vaccines, including vitamin K injections and erythromycin eye ointment, with declines in hepatitis B vaccination also reported. A JAMA study found vitamin K refusals rose from 2.9% to 5.2% between 2017 and 2024. Experts say these refusals raise the risk of serious bleeding and preventable infections, and emphasize patient‑centered dialogue to address concerns and protect infants.
Across the U.S., pediatricians confront rising vaccine hesitancy fueled by misinformation, choosing patient, nonjudgmental dialogue over pushy preservation of trust as exemptions vary by state and outbreaks loom, hoping to keep children protected and relationships with families intact.
A JAMA study of 12.4 million US newborns found the hepatitis B birth-dose rate dropped from 83.5% to 73.2% from 2023 to mid-2025, implying hundreds of thousands fewer babies vaccinated and potential rises in infant infections. The decline aligns with rising vaccine skepticism linked to the Covid era, and follows the CDC’s shift to shared decision-making for several vaccines, producing uneven state responses. Experts warn the US health system lacks the infrastructure to match more universal, registry-backed vaccination models seen in other countries.
The U.S. measles outbreak has grown to 664 cases in South Carolina and spread to several states, threatening the nation’s measles-elimination status as vaccination rates dip amid misinformation about vaccines; most infected are unvaccinated children, and experts warn the outbreak could worsen and fuel other preventable diseases, prompting renewed calls for vaccines, public-health outreach, and stricter school mandates to protect vulnerable populations.
A UK study analyzing over a million people via the REACT study linked to NHS records found about 65% of those who were hesitant about COVID-19 vaccines later received at least one dose. Hesitancy was more common in economically deprived areas, among the unemployed, and in those with lower education, but concerns about efficacy and side effects were the main drivers and could be alleviated with targeted information; distrust in medicine remains harder to overcome, and some experts question the findings’ applicability beyond the pandemic context.
Recent changes to US vaccine guidelines, emphasizing shared decision-making and targeting only at-risk groups, have caused confusion and skepticism among parents and healthcare providers, potentially undermining vaccination rates and public health efforts.
The article discusses a significant measles outbreak in West Texas, primarily among Mennonite communities who oppose vaccination due to distrust and religious beliefs, leading to increased cases and fatalities, while highlighting the community's resistance to public health efforts and the importance of culturally sensitive communication.
Pakistan's first national HPV vaccine campaign faced resistance due to misinformation, conspiracy theories, and cultural concerns, despite the vaccine's safety and importance in preventing cervical cancer, with efforts including public vaccination and government support to increase acceptance.