In a study published in the journal BMC Public Health, the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) and the Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IRSJD) have analysed the reasons why 20.8% of European adolescents are reluctant to get vaccinated. The study was carried out as part of the European citizen science project Science4Pandemics and involved young people from Spain, Italy, Portugal and Poland, as well as their parents. In total, almost 3,000 people answered the PACV (Parent Attitudes about Childhood Vaccines) questionnaire or its adapted version.
Among the results, it should be noted that Spain is the country with the highest acceptance of vaccines. Only 12.5% of adolescents are reluctant to have them. In contrast, in Poland, the figure rises to almost 32%. The main reasons for this distrust at European level are fear of side effects and mistrust of government recommendations. Other reasons mentioned, but to a lesser extent, are financial barriers and the belief that the infections they prevent are not serious.
The results help to address the decline in vaccination coverage in Europe. According to Pere Millat-Martínez (ISGlobal), lead author of the paper, ‘the results show that this may be more related to misunderstandings about efficacy and safety than to access to the health system’. In addition, he urges the improvement of public health strategies to ensure vaccination coverage. The authors highlight the importance of enhancing young people awareness through school initiatives and mass media to avoid misinformation, for example through the influence of social media.
Millat-Martínez, P., Mora, A., Condeminas, P.E. et al. Exploring reported causes of vaccine hesitancy among European adolescents and parents: results of a citizen science project. BMC Public Health 25, 1136 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22316-z
