How do adolescents perceive vaccines and hesitancy? A new EuCARE study, published in Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, explores adolescent viewpoints on vaccines, COVID-19 immunization, and HPV awareness through anonymized, validated, self-completed electronic surveys and focus groups in London schools.
Key findings:
✅ High confidence in childhood vaccines (91–95%) but lower trust in COVID-19 vaccines (47–56% believed they were adequately tested).
✅ Parental influence is crucial—96% of students relied on parents for vaccine decisions, followed by healthcare providers (48%).
✅ Social media had minimal impact, while recommendations from doctors and parents significantly boosted vaccine confidence.
✅ HPV vaccine uptake was high (77–83%), but international HPV awareness campaigns need better youth-targeted design.
Understanding these perceptions is key to improving vaccine communication strategies and fostering stronger public health initiatives.
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