Table 3.
General vaccine beliefs (excluding HPV vaccine), organized by theme
| Theme | Belief | Number of Studies (N = 71) |
|---|---|---|
| Adverse effects | Vaccines cause diseases/illnesses | 36 |
| Taking too many vaccines overloads immune system | 13 | |
| Vaccines contain harmful ingredients | 12 | |
| Younger children are more susceptible to vaccine risks | 9 | |
| Vaccine is too new/not fully studied | 4 | |
| Vaccines do not work for everyone | 3 | |
| Herd immunity increases risks of VPD | 1 | |
| Mistrust | Profit motive | 8 |
| Mistrust of doctors | 3 | |
| Black children are given low quality vaccines | 2 | |
| Mistrust of government/doctors | 2 | |
| Mistrust of government/doctors/pharma | 2 | |
| Mistrust of government/pharma | 2 | |
| Mistrust of pharma | 2 | |
| Lack of necessity | Naturally developed immunity is superior | 6 |
| Natural remedies as substitutes for vaccines | 4 | |
| Environmental control as substitute for vaccines | 3 | |
| VPD is not severe | 2 | |
| Herd immunity works so vaccination is not necessary | 1 | |
| Lifestyle choices as substitutes for vaccines | 1 | |
| Vaccine is unnatural human intervention | 1 | |
| Pro-vaccine opinions | Child deserves protection | 4 |
| Vaccine is therapeutic | 4 | |
| Doctors/public health experts have the public's best interests in mind | 1 | |
| Vaccination protects household economy and social capital | 1 | |
| Vaccine protects reproductive capability at some ages | 1 | |
| Vaccines serve the greater good | 1 | |
| Skepticism about effectiveness | Herd immunity does not work | 2 |
| Vaccine schedule is not related to effectiveness | 2 | |
| Vaccines become ineffective after multiple doses | 1 | |
| Vaccines do not work | 1 | |
| Desire for autonomy | Herd immunity implies herd mentality | 1 |
| Mandate implies importance of a vaccine | 1 | |
| Vaccine decision is a parent's right | 1 | |
| Morality concerns | Some vaccine ingredients are derived from fetuses | 1 |