vaccine hesitancy
noun
plural vaccine hesitancies
: the reluctance or refusal to have oneself or one's children vaccinated
Vaccine hesitancy can contribute to the continued spread of disease because vaccinations are not being administered.—
Fred Steiner
Fred SteinerScientists are expressing concern over what they call "vaccine hesitancy" regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.—Katie Camero
Katie CameroWHO [World Health Organization] notes that measles cases have increased by 30 percent across the globe, and while not all cases are due to vaccine hesitancies, some countries that had nearly eliminated the disease have seen its return.—Katie Gillespie
Katie GillespieExamples of vaccine hesitancy in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The National Institutes of Health, which is also under HHS, recently ended funding for studies that examine vaccine hesitancy.
—CNN Money, 14 Apr. 2025
The latest — more than 40 grants related to vaccine hesitancy now cancelled by the National Institutes of Health, according to NPR.
—Omer Awan, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
In the sessions, providers shared in-depth information about vaccines and vaccine-preventable diseases and facilitated a discussion to address vaccine hesitancy.
—Laurie Archbald-Pannone, The Conversation, 14 Mar. 2025
Also on the chopping block were 40 grants focused on vaccine hesitancy and ways to increase vaccine acceptance.
—Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vaccine hesitancy
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CNN Money, 14 Apr. 2025
The latest — more than 40 grants related to vaccine hesitancy now cancelled by the National Institutes of Health, according to NPR.
—Omer Awan, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
In the sessions, providers shared in-depth information about vaccines and vaccine-preventable diseases and facilitated a discussion to address vaccine hesitancy.
—Laurie Archbald-Pannone, The Conversation, 14 Mar. 2025
Also on the chopping block were 40 grants focused on vaccine hesitancy and ways to increase vaccine acceptance.
—Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vaccine hesitancy
Cite this Entry
“Vaccine hesitancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vaccine%20hesitancy. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
vaccine hesitancy
noun
: the reluctance or refusal to have oneself or one's children vaccinated
Scientists are expressing concern over what they call "vaccine hesitancy" regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.—Katie Camero, The Miami Herald
Katie Camero, The Miami HeraldReasons for vaccine hesitancy fit into 3 categories: lack of confidence (in effectiveness, safety, the system, or policy makers), complacency (perceived low risk of acquiring VPDs [vaccine preventable diseases]), and lack of convenience …—Shixin Shen and Vinita Dubey, Canadian Family Physician
Shixin Shen and Vinita Dubey, Canadian Family PhysicianWHO [World Health Organization] notes that measles cases have increased by 30 percent across the globe, and while not all cases are due to vaccine hesitancies, some countries that had nearly eliminated the disease have seen its return.—Katie Gillespie, The Columbian (Vancouver, Washington)
Katie Gillespie, The Columbian (Vancouver, Washington)Love words? Need even more definitions?
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