60% Pregnant Women, Mothers Hesitant on Childhood Vaccines US Survey

Recent surveys indicate a significant decline in vaccine confidence among pregnant women and parents of young children in the U.S., with about 60% considering delaying or refusing routine childhood vaccinations, and only 40% planning to fully vaccinate their children. Vaccine hesitancy is particularly high among first-time pregnant women, with nearly half uncertain about vaccination decisions, raising concerns among health officials about potential outbreaks of diseases like measles. Experts warn that declining vaccination rates threaten the U.S.'s measles elimination status, as unvaccinated children become vulnerable to highly contagious diseases. In contrast, a UK survey reveals strong parental confidence in childhood vaccines, with 85% trusting vaccine safety and healthcare professionals remaining the most trusted information source. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted gaps in vaccine safety data for pregnant individuals and children, emphasizing the need for continuous, high-quality evidence synthesis, as facilitated by living systematic reviews to inform vaccine policies globally. These findings underscore the critical role of healthcare professionals in addressing vaccine hesitancy and the ongoing challenge of sustaining immunization coverage amid growing public uncertainty.