Communication interventions to reduce parental vaccine hesitancy: A systematic review

Introduction

Vaccine hesitancy among parents and caregivers is a growing issue that can lead to reduced vaccine coverage and corresponding outbreaks of disease. Different interventions to reduce vaccine hesitancy have been developed, including the use of remote online communication that has become more common during the COVID-19 pandemic, but their impacts and effectiveness are unclear. In this systematic review, we aimed to identify effective types of communication that reduce vaccine hesitancy.

Methods

Multiple online databases were searched on April 1st, 2022 as well as March 18th, 2024. Included articles studied the impact of communication interventions aiming to reduce vaccine hesitancy among parents and caregivers of young children. Interventions targeting adolescent or adult vaccines were excluded. Potential biases or limitations that may affect the results of each study were evaluated.

Results

Out of 3873 identified articles, 33 studies were included in this review, and 25 showed effectiveness. Among the 25 effective communication interventions, 11 were in-person and interactive, 11 were neither in-person nor interactive, 3 were interactive but not in-person, and 2 were in-person but not interactive.

Discussion

Communication interventions can reduce vaccine hesitancy and increase childhood vaccine coverage. Although different types of interventions can reduce vaccine hesitancy and increase childhood vaccine coverage, especially by in-person and interactive communication interventions, further research is needed to elucidate the components that make such interventions impactful in different settings. These findings are particularly relevant for clinicians and public health officials striving to reduce vaccine hesitancy and increase vaccine uptake among children.