Parents’ Confusion from Misinformation on Vaccines a Possible Driver in Disruption of Routine Pediatric Immunisation in Europe
A feature article on why misinformation and parental confusion are disrupting routine childhood immunisation across Europe — with survey data, expert commentary and the case for trusted, provider-led communication.
Key messages
- Europe has some of the world’s lowest confidence in vaccine safety and effectiveness, and measles has re-emerged in several countries.
- Nearly half of EU citizens (48%) wrongly believe vaccines often cause serious side effects.
- 25 million children missed a routine vaccination in 2021 — the highest number since 2009.
- Clear, safety-focused information from trusted healthcare professionals is central to reversing the decline.
In October 2022, the Excellence in Pediatrics Institute, with support from Pfizer, surveyed paediatric healthcare providers and civic, advocacy and HCP stakeholder organisations across Europe. The survey received 106 valid responses (fielded 6–21 October 2022).
