Global Experts Call for Action on Vaccination Apathy, and More Protection for Older Adults Against Infectious Diseases

BERLIN, November 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

• 'Vaccination apathy' is a key barrier to protecting the community against infectious disease, according to global health experts  
• By 2060, 30% of Europeans will be aged 65 years or over^[1] - a life-course approach to immunisation, including adult vaccination, is a cost-effective method for achieving better health outcomes for our ageing population^[2]   
• Key principles of behavioural economics - the study of psychology as it relates to the economic decision-making processes of individuals and institutions - have been reported to benefit healthcare management^[3] and lend themselves to understanding and addressing vaccination apathy 

At the recent 2017 World Health Summit - one of the world's most prestigious strategic forums on global health - a group of prominent global experts participated in a panel discussion on vaccination apathy, assessing the extent of influence it has on vaccination uptake, its causes, the role of healthcare providers, and how behavioural economics can help understand and address it. The expert panel called on policymakers and the healthcare community to take action to address vaccination apathy - an increasing challenge which threatens to jeopardize community protection against infectious disease. With a focus on adult vaccination, the panel discussed the issue in the context of the globally ageing population and the need to protect older adults against diseases, such as pneumococcal disease and influenza.

Vaccination apathy, or hesitancy, as it is also referred to, is defined as the delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite availability of vaccination services.^[4] It varies across time, place and vaccine, and incorporates factors such as complacency, convenience and confidence. Vaccination apathy is not only limited to the general public but has also been identified in healthcare providers.^[5]

Session Chair, and leading authority on vaccination confidence, Dr Heidi Larson, Director of The Vaccine Confidence Project at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK said, "Whilst the majority of the research on vaccination apathy has focused on its prevalence among the general public, studies also show that groups of healthcare professionals, varying across geography and vaccine, may themselves be 'vaccine hesitant'. This is important in light of the high degree of trust patients place in their doctors' opinions and advice. It is important to realise that just as the general public may be influenced by rumours and concerns around vaccines, so may some healthcare providers."