Still dozens of studies support health care provider recommendation as a major factor in achieving high rates of vaccine uptake. Studies have failed to show the efficacy of educational interventions, and, indeed, a number of studies of educational interventions show a contrarian effect leaving the vaccine-hesitant more entrenched in their views. Studies show even among parents of well-vaccinated children that 15-35% of those parents are vaccine-hesitant. It persists despite the preponderance of evidence supporting vaccine safety and effectiveness.
Vaccine hesitancy dates back to the days of Edward Jenner and the smallpox vaccine. Vaccine hesitancy occurs throughout the world and can result in poor vaccine uptake and vaccine-preventable disease-outbreaks.
