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

Scientists are expressing concern over what they call "vaccine hesitancy" regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

—Katie Camero

WHO [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

Examples of vaccine hesitancy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

After two school years of inaccurate vaccination data reporting to state agencies, Zion Elementary School District 6 has managed a remarkable turnaround, but is still fighting vaccine hesitancy among some district parents. —Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026

Addressing vaccine hesitancy depends at least in part on messaging, which has changed with the administration in power—and can again. —Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 2 May 2026

In some parts of Florida, the declining childhood vaccination rates reflect a decline in public health confidence and an increase in vaccine hesitancy. —Cindy Krischer Goodman, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2026

In South Florida, 2025-26 childhood vaccination rates reflect a decline in public health confidence and an increase in vaccine hesitancy. —Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

2002, in the meaning defined above

Medical 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

Reasons 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

WHO [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)