Shutterstock 2434606625 (1)

Should You Vaccinate? Three Reasons To Consider It and Three Reasons People Hesitate

Tele

Choosing whether to vaccinate is a personal decision that should be informed by clear facts, not confusion. At Nervana Medical in Sandy, Utah, we hear thoughtful questions from patients every day about benefits, risks, and how to make the best choice for their families. In this blog we outline the top three reasons many people choose to vaccinate, alongside the top three reasons some people hesitate or decline. Our goal is to present both sides clearly, explain what the evidence shows, and share how we guide patients through a balanced, individualized decision. We will cover protection against serious disease, community benefits, and real-world safety data, as well as common concerns about side effects, schedule volume, and trust in institutions. By the end you will have a straightforward framework for talking with your provider, reviewing credible sources, and deciding what aligns with your health goals and values

The top three reasons why individuals should continue to receive vaccinations are: 

  • Prevention of morbidity and mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases: Vaccines substantially reduce the risk of serious illness, hospitalization, and death from diseases such as influenza, pneumococcal disease, HPV-related cancers, and herpes zoster. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) estimate that tens of thousands of adults die annually from vaccine-preventable diseases, with the majority of deaths attributable to influenza and pneumococcal infections.[1] 
  • Protection of vulnerable populations and reduction of disease transmission: Vaccination not only protects the individual but also reduces transmission within the community, thereby safeguarding those who are immunocompromised, elderly, or otherwise at increased risk for complications. This is particularly important for diseases with high morbidity in at-risk groups, such as influenza and pneumococcal disease. Herd immunity is a critical public health benefit of widespread vaccination.[2] 
  • Cost-effectiveness and sustainability of healthcare systems: Routine adult vaccination is generally cost-effective, and in some cases cost-saving, by preventing disease outbreaks, reducing healthcare utilization, and minimizing productivity losses. The National Commission on Prevention Priorities ranks adult immunization among the most effective clinical preventive services, and the CDC/ACIP guidelines emphasize the societal and economic benefits of maintaining high vaccination coverage.[1][3] 

These reasons are consistently supported by the CDC/ACIP guidelines and surveillance data, which highlight the ongoing need for routine vaccination throughout adulthood to maintain individual and public health.[4][5][1] 

References

  • General Recommendations on Immunization — Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR. Recommendations and Reports : Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Recommendations and Reports. 2011;60(2):1-64.
  • Vaccination Coverage of Recommended Vaccines and Determinants of Vaccination in at-Risk Groups. Boey L, Bosmans E, Ferreira LB, et al. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics. 2020;16(9):2136-2143. doi:10.1080/21645515.2020.1763739.
  • Lifelong Vaccination as a Key Disease-Prevention Strategy. Bonanni P, Sacco C, Donato R, Capei R. Clinical Microbiology and Infection : The Official Publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. 2014;20 Suppl 5:32-6. doi:10.1111/1469-0691.12537.
  • Adult Vaccination. Greenberg GM, Koshy PA, Hanson MJS. American Family Physician. 2022;106(5):534-542.
  • Surveillance of Vaccination Coverage Among Adult Populations -United States, 2018. Lu PJ, Hung MC, Srivastav A, et al. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Surveillance Summaries (Washington, D.C. : 2002). 2021;70(3):1-26. doi:10.15585/mmwr.ss7003a1.

The top three reasons why an individual might choose not to receive vaccinations are: 

**1. Concerns about vaccine safety or fear of adverse effects.** The most frequently cited reason for vaccine refusal is worry that vaccines may cause harm, including both common, mild side effects (such as fever or pain at the injection site) and rare, serious adverse events. These concerns are often amplified by misinformation, anecdotal reports, and distrust in the safety monitoring systems for vaccines.[1][2] 

**2. Low perceived risk of disease or belief that vaccines are unnecessary.** Some individuals believe that the diseases targeted by vaccines are either not severe or unlikely to affect them or their children, especially in the context of declining incidence due to successful immunization programs. This perception leads to undervaluing the benefits of vaccination and overestimating the risks of vaccine-preventable diseases.[1] 

**3. Distrust in healthcare systems, government, or pharmaceutical industry.** Lack of trust in the institutions responsible for vaccine development, approval, and recommendation—including skepticism about motives, transparency, and competence—can drive vaccine hesitancy. This distrust may be influenced by sociocultural, political, or historical factors, and is often exacerbated by exposure to anti-vaccination messages and conspiracy theories, particularly via social media.[3][4][5] 

These factors are consistently identified in the medical literature and by frameworks such as the World Health Organization SAGE Working Group on Vaccine Hesitancy, as cited by the American Academy of Pediatrics.[6] 

References

  • Vaccine Refusal, Mandatory Immunization, and the Risks of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. Omer SB, Salmon DA, Orenstein WA, deHart MP, Halsey N. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2009;360(19):1981-8. doi:10.1056/NEJMsa0806477.
  • A Survey Exploring Reasons Behind Immunization Refusal Among the Parents and Caregivers of Children Under Two Years Living in Urban Slums of Karachi, Pakistan. Khaliq A, Elahi AA, Zahid A, Lassi ZS. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022;19(18):11631. doi:10.3390/ijerph191811631.
  • The Vaccine-Hesitant Moment. Larson HJ, Gakidou E, Murray CJL. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2022;387(1):58-65. doi:10.1056/NEJMra2106441.
  • Vaccine Hesitancy: Causes, Consequences, and a Call to Action. Salmon DA, Dudley MZ, Glanz JM, Omer SB. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2015;49(6 Suppl 4):S391-8. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2015.06.009.
  • Vaccine Hesitancy: Contemporary Issues and Historical Background. Nuwarda RF, Ramzan I, Weekes L, Kayser V. Vaccines. 2022;10(10):1595. doi:10.3390/vaccines10101595.
  • Strategies for Improving Vaccine Communication and Uptake. O’Leary ST, Opel DJ, Cataldi JR, Hackell JM. Pediatrics. 2024;:e2023065483. doi:10.1542/peds.2023-065483.

The top three reasons why individuals should continue to receive vaccinations are: 

  • Prevention of morbidity and mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases: Vaccines substantially reduce the risk of serious illness, hospitalization, and death from diseases such as influenza, pneumococcal disease, HPV-related cancers, and herpes zoster. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) estimate that tens of thousands of adults die annually from vaccine-preventable diseases, with the majority of deaths attributable to influenza and pneumococcal infections.[1] 
  • Protection of vulnerable populations and reduction of disease transmission: Vaccination not only protects the individual but also reduces transmission within the community, thereby safeguarding those who are immunocompromised, elderly, or otherwise at increased risk for complications. This is particularly important for diseases with high morbidity in at-risk groups, such as influenza and pneumococcal disease. Herd immunity is a critical public health benefit of widespread vaccination.[2] 
  • Cost-effectiveness and sustainability of healthcare systems: Routine adult vaccination is generally cost-effective, and in some cases cost-saving, by preventing disease outbreaks, reducing healthcare utilization, and minimizing productivity losses. The National Commission on Prevention Priorities ranks adult immunization among the most effective clinical preventive services, and the CDC/ACIP guidelines emphasize the societal and economic benefits of maintaining high vaccination coverage.[1][3] 

These reasons are consistently supported by the CDC/ACIP guidelines and surveillance data, which highlight the ongoing need for routine vaccination throughout adulthood to maintain individual and public health.[4][5][1] 

References

  • General Recommendations on Immunization — Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR. Recommendations and Reports : Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Recommendations and Reports. 2011;60(2):1-64.
  • Vaccination Coverage of Recommended Vaccines and Determinants of Vaccination in at-Risk Groups. Boey L, Bosmans E, Ferreira LB, et al. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics. 2020;16(9):2136-2143. doi:10.1080/21645515.2020.1763739.
  • Lifelong Vaccination as a Key Disease-Prevention Strategy. Bonanni P, Sacco C, Donato R, Capei R. Clinical Microbiology and Infection : The Official Publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. 2014;20 Suppl 5:32-6. doi:10.1111/1469-0691.12537.
  • Adult Vaccination. Greenberg GM, Koshy PA, Hanson MJS. American Family Physician. 2022;106(5):534-542.
  • Surveillance of Vaccination Coverage Among Adult Populations -United States, 2018. Lu PJ, Hung MC, Srivastav A, et al. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Surveillance Summaries (Washington, D.C. : 2002). 2021;70(3):1-26. doi:10.15585/mmwr.ss7003a1.