Vaccine Hesitancy: Stakeholders and Policy Impact Analysis

1 9-1 Project Two Kailynd A. Biggar Graduate Nursing, Southern New Hampshire University IHP-610: Health Policy and Law Dr. Tim Reardon February 11, 2024

2 Introduction Health Policy Issue According to Larson et al. (2022) a feeling of uncertainty and reluctance over vaccination prior to a determination to act (or not act) is known as vaccine hesitancy. It signifies a period of both potential and vulnerability (Larson et al., 2022). New degrees of unpredictability surrounding vaccine hesitation have been shown by multiple polls that were performed to assess opinions toward vaccination against the COVID-19 virus (Larson et al., 2022). Larson et al. (2022) states that this unpredictability is especially evident when the hesitancy is driven by social media platforms. Key Stakeholders and Interest Groups Larson et al. (2022) states that the stakeholders who will be most impacted by this health policy concern include state employees, unvaccinated adults, and public health professionals/agencies. Increases in vaccination reluctance frequently follow the release of new data, updated regulations, or updated reports of vaccine hazards (Larson et al., 2022). A portion of the diversity can be attributed to elements like a waning public confidence in specialists, inclinations toward complementary and alternative medicine, political division, and radicalism based on beliefs (Larson et al., 2022). This issue affects those who are most vulnerable due to factors like cost and mobility constraints, lack of insurance and ability to afford insurance, religious beliefs, inadequate education and guidance from medical professionals, and a lack of knowledge regarding immunizations. Influence on Decision Making Stakeholder Needs

3 APIC (2021) states that according to public health experts and institutions as many people as possible should receive vaccinations. When a large percentage of the population is immune, a phenomenon known as herd immunity arises, which hinders the disease's ability to spread to new victims (APIC, 2021). Since germs transmit swiftly from person to person, an outbreak occurs when a sufficient number of people in a community contract the disease (APIC, 2021). It will be difficult for the disease to spread if enough people receive vaccinations (APIC, 2021). The National Adult Immunization Plan (NAIP) is a summary of the steps that federal and nonfederal partners must do to safeguard the public's health and attain the best possible mitigation of infectious illnesses and their aftereffects through adult vaccination (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2022). Four main objectives are outlined in the plan, and each is backed up by strategies and targets to help with implementation (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2022). The objectives are to fortify the infrastructure for adult vaccinations, enhance community demand for adult vaccinations, boost access to adult vaccines, and promote technological and developmental innovation in adult vaccines (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2022). The NAIP acknowledges that in order for the initiative to be successful, state, local, territorial, and tribal governments, healthcare providers, advocacy organizations, vaccine manufacturers, academic institutions and research, payers, health plans, employers, and members of the public must come together to remove obstacles and improve adult vaccination access (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2022). Health Policy Influence Politicians, public health experts, and government agencies such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can all have a substantial nonfinancial impact on this health policy concern (Larson et al., 2022). However, the government, legislators, and pharmaceutical

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