Vaccine adherence: the rate of hesitancy toward childhood immunization in Kazakhstan

ABSTRACT

Objectives

Vaccines are considered one of the most important inventions of human history that enabled the containment of several infectious diseases. However, there is a global decrease in the rate of vaccination and an increase in outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. The aims of the current study are to determine childhood vaccine hesitancy and its influencing factors in Kazakhstan.

Methods

This cross sectional online-based study was conducted between Sep until Nov of 2019.

Results

A total of 387 participants of which 70% were females with the majority under the age of 40 years and having one child or more. More than a third (35%) of the participants identified themselves as vaccine hesitant, 71% believed that vaccines are effective, and 65% believed that vaccines are good. Vaccine source of information appears to be an influential factor as those who receive information from healthcare providers have no concerns about vaccination.

Conclusion

This is the first study to identify factors associated with vaccine hesitancy in Kazakhstan. There is a high rate of vaccine hesitancy and low rate of vaccine knowledge identified in the participant group. Healthcare providers have a unique position in improving parents’ vaccine knowledge and acceptance.

KEYWORDS:

• Vaccine hesitancy
• vaccination
• Kazakhstan
• childhood immunization
• vaccine refusal

Acknowledgments

This work would not have been possible without the help and participation of each participant.

Author contributions

M Aljofan and Z Akhmetzhanova were involved in the conception, design of the study, and drafting of the paper. M Aljofan, Z Akhmetzhanova, V Sazonov and D Riethmacher were involved in analyses and interpretation of the data. All authors approve the final version of the paper to be published; and that all authors agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.