Study highlights communication strategies to address childhood vaccine hesitancy

A new review published in the New England Journal of Medicine examines the drivers of childhood vaccine hesitancy and outlines strategies for healthcare professionals to address misinformation, build trust and support informed parental decision-making.

Clear and confident provider recommendations remain a strong predictor of vaccine acceptance and uptake. Key communication strategies include:

• presumptive communication approaches presenting vaccination as the default recommendation alongside respectful, patient-centred dialogue that acknowledges concerns
• empathy-based strategies such as motivational interviewing to address misinformation while maintaining trust
• tailored dialogue addressing specific access and acceptance barriers, including those identified through the National Vaccination Insights project

The authors also highlight Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation (SKAI) as a key resource, offering evidence-based tools to support conversations with parents across the vaccine intention spectrum.

Access the study here