‘I’m not an anti-vaxer!’—vaccine hesitancy among physicians: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND: Over the last years, research interest in vaccine hesitancy has increased. Studies usually focus on perceptions of parents and have largely neglected the group of health care providers. However, doctors’ notions on vaccination have a major impact on the decision-making process of their patients. We were interested to understand the phenomenon of vaccine hesitancy among physicians, with a particular focus on the measles vaccine. Furthermore, we aimed to understand the underlying perceptions of measles that may be associated with vaccine hesitant decisions. METHODS: In order to get an in-depth view, semi-structured interviews with physicians were conducted. Doctors were eligible for the study if they articulated vaccine hesitant views and/or demonstrated vaccine hesitancy in their medical practice. RESULTS: We interviewed 12 physicians, of whom 11 had a medical practice with no contract with the Austrian social insurance (‘Wahlarzt’) and additional training in complementary and alternative medicine. We found perceptions of immunology, health and illness that were discordant with evidence-based medicine and closely related to alternative and complementary medicine. All participants argued for a delayed administration of the measles vaccine. We found a consistent inclination towards ‘individual vaccination’, which was explained as empowering parents and to strengthen their decision-making competencies. Most participants expressed doubts about the reliability of vaccine studies and were concerned with possible long-term effects. CONCLUSIONS: Paying closer attention to doctors’ concerns on vaccination might help to design target-oriented interventions to specifically strengthen vaccine confidence.