Antibiotic misuse and vaccine hesitancy: A hidden relation?

Abstract

The relationship between vaccine hesitancy and antibiotic misuse remains complex and insufficiently understood, raising questions about whether these phenomena are directly connected or shaped by shared underlying factors. As vaccine hesitancy and antimicrobial resistance constitute intertwined public health challenges with serious implications for population well-being, it is crucial to explore how attitudes toward vaccination correspond with patterns of antibiotic use. This study examines antibiotic hesitancy and misuse among vaccine-hesitant parents in Portugal-a group often inclined toward alternative health practices in managing family health. Based on in-depth interviews with 31 parents, the findings reveal that participants critically reflect on medical interventions, frequently questioning the necessity and appropriateness of antibiotics. The study highlights consumption practices that diverge from biomedical guidelines, potentially increasing children's vulnerability, and draws attention to the limited focus on antibiotic misuse in existing literature. Results confirm an interconnection between vaccine uptake and parental knowledge of antibiotics, suggesting that limited understanding of antibiotic roles is associated with delayed or refused childhood vaccination. Echoing patterns of vaccine refusal, parents who reject or selectively use antibiotics often adopt a 'natural' approach to health, reinforcing a broader social identity in which parents position themselves as experts in safeguarding their children's well-being. These findings point to wider perceptions of risk surrounding conventional medicine and science in general, underscoring the need for more effective health communication.