Parents and healthcare workers may refuse to get immunized or vaccinate their children if they believe the risks of a novel vaccine outweigh the benefits, according to recent research.
The researchers conducted eleven focus groups, asking participants how willing they would be to accept a new vaccine in the event of a pandemic. Parents known to favor alternative medicine were particularly opposed to vaccination, but even healthcare workers proved to be reluctant to get vaccinated against an illness perceived as mild.
Participants were particularly concerned that in a pandemic, a vaccine would be brought to market without sufficient testing for safety.