A Meta-Analysis of Vaccination Hesitancy : the case of MMR and COVID 19

Abstract

Vaccination is a preventive measure to reduce death and morbidity against infectious diseases, and has been applied effectively against most of the viral and bacterial infections around the world. Targeted campaigns against children diseases have been very effective in drastically reducing such diseases thanks to national immunization programs in both developed and developing countries. However, many individuals including parents of various ages are still reluctant to commit to vaccination and some recent fears have been increasing when it comes to vaccination more recently, especially due to many social media campaigns. With the recent COVID-19 pandemic, the issue of vaccination or refusal thereof, vaccine hesitancy, was highlighted and people reminded of valid reasons to get vaccinated. Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine was evidently successful, as the disease was almost eradicated, until social media greatly amplified the anti-vaxers voices. This meta-analysis study aims at assessing the level of hesitancy towards Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) and Covid-19 vaccines among individuals of different ages, taking into consideration various influential parameters. Our findings showed similar patterns of hesitancy for both MMR and COVID 19 among mothers or women with secondary education level with middle to high monthly income. Effect of age was different on hesitancy as younger women with first child were hesitant administering MMR to their child while older women were more hesitant towards covid 19 vaccine. Vaccine safety, effectiveness, availability have also resulted in significant decrease of hesitancy among parents, though MMR was mistakenly associated with autism risk in children, and side effect scares of COVID 19 vaccine increased hesitancy. Positive Health care providers, social media and peer pressure influences have improved participants’ awareness towards MMR and Covid-19 vaccinations, thus reduced hesitancy levels and enhanced people’s willingness to immunization. The goal of this study is to emphasize on the importance of vaccination and that many of the reasons to refuse such a vaccination are not disease-dependent but rather attitude and false claims; thus, it is ultimately crucial to organize appropriate intervention plans including educational programs and vaccinations awareness campaigns in order to motivate vaccination among individuals and save humans’ lives. In conclusion, this meta-analysis study reveals that vaccination hesitancy is not constant and thus, it varies based on several influential factors including age, gender, educational level, population’s awareness regarding vaccinations, etc… Therefore, further research is needed in order to improve populations’ awareness regarding vaccination and its benefits to the whole community, thus appropriate intervention plans including educational programs and vaccinations awareness campaigns can motivate vaccination and save humans’ lives.