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What is herd immunity, and how does it relate to pediatric vaccination uptake? US parent perspectives

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  • Sobo, Elisa J.

Abstract

In light of current concern over pediatric immunization rates, 53 US parents with at least one child kindergarten age or younger were surveyed and interviewed regarding vaccine decision making. Data were collected in 2014 in San Diego, California. Herd immunity was not a salient issue: only six (11.3%) referenced the term or concept spontaneously; others had to be prompted. Parents familiar with herd immunity (70%) variously saw it as not just unnecessary but unproven, illogical, unrealistic, and unreliable. For instance, parents questioned its attainability because many adults do not immunize themselves. Some understood the concept negatively, as an instance of “herd mentality.” Further, having knowledge of herd immunity that public health experts would deem ‘correct’ did not lead to full vaccination. Implications of findings for understanding how the public makes use of scientific information, the potential role of public health messaging regarding altruism and ‘free-riding,’ and assumptions that vaccine-cautious parents would willfully take advantage of herd immunity are explored in relation to parent role expectations and American individualism.

Suggested Citation

  • Sobo, Elisa J., 2016. "What is herd immunity, and how does it relate to pediatric vaccination uptake? US parent perspectives," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 187-195.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:165:y:2016:i:c:p:187-195
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.06.015
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hendrix, K.S. & Sturm, L.A. & Zimet, G.D. & Meslin, E.M., 2016. "Ethics and childhood vaccination policy in the United States," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 106(2), pages 273-278.
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    3. Hershey, John C. & Asch, David A. & Thumasathit, Thi & Meszaros, Jacqueline & Waters, Victor V., 1994. "The Roles of Altruism, Free Riding, and Bandwagoning in Vaccination Decisions," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 59(2), pages 177-187, August.
    4. Wang, E. & Clymer, J. & Davis-Hayes, C. & Buttenheim, A., 2014. "Nonmedical exemptions from school immunization requirements: A systematic review," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 104(11), pages 62-84.
    5. Skea, Zoë C. & Entwistle, Vikki A. & Watt, Ian & Russell, Elizabeth, 2008. "'Avoiding harm to others' considerations in relation to parental measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination discussions - An analysis of an online chat forum," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(9), pages 1382-1390, November.
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    1. Viju Raghupathi & Jie Ren & Wullianallur Raghupathi, 2020. "Studying Public Perception about Vaccination: A Sentiment Analysis of Tweets," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-23, May.

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