Insights from social science research on parental willingness to vaccinate
Why do parents have their child vaccinated, or opt not to vaccinate? The SocioVax programme at RIVM explored that question through survey-based research. The results show that the vast majority of parents in the Netherlands consider it a social norm to have children vaccinated, even in groups in which vaccination uptake is lower than average. Care providers are an important source of information when making decisions about vaccination. This study helps us understand what different groups consider important in making decisions about vaccination, and what can help them in that process.
The main outcomes are:
- Self-reported vaccination uptake is lower among parents with a non-Dutch background and parents who have only completed primary or secondary education.
- On average, these parents are less convinced of the importance of vaccination, more hesitant about vaccine safety, and less likely to have confidence in the government and the healthcare system.
- There is no single specific belief or conviction that largely dictates vaccination decisions.
- The vast majority of parents in the Netherlands consider it a social norm to have children vaccinated, even in groups in which vaccination uptake is lower than average.
- A significant majority are satisfied about their most recent vaccination experience. Confidence in care providers that give vaccinations is high. For most parents, care providers are an important source of information when making decisions about vaccination.
Read the knowledge brief:
Results of the SocioVax monitor 2024: insights from social science on willingness to vaccinate in the context of the National Immunisation Programme