Vaccine hesitancy and implications on childhood immunisation in Malaysia
International Journal of Health Governance
ISSN: 2059-4631
Article publication date: 7 December 2021
Issue publication date: 11 February 2022
Abstract
Purpose
The World Health Organization identified vaccine hesitancy as one of the ten threats to global health in 2019. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the implications and factors affecting parental decision on childhood immunisation in Malaysia.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper reviews literature on vaccine hesitancy and evaluation of factors affecting parental decision on childhood immunisation in Malaysia.
Findings
Vaccine hesitancy is a growing public health concern in Malaysia with factors such as influence of Internet and social media, personal choice and individual right, conspiracy theory, religious reasons and alternative medicine as among the influencing dynamics. An urban, educated demography operating within a postmodern medical paradigm compounds the diminishing value of vaccines.
Originality/value
This paper provides a comprehensive examination of vaccine hesitancy in Malaysia. Critical appraisal on personal choice over societal responsibility within an Asian/Muslim collectivist society has not been discussed in previous studies. The acceptance of homeopathy as an Islamic medicine alternative is peculiar to multi-ethnic, multi-cultural Malaysia.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Funding: The grant for this research was obtained from the Department of Business Administration Research Grant, Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia.
Citation
Abd Manaf, N.H., Omar, M.A. and Suib, F.H. (2022), "Vaccine hesitancy and implications on childhood immunisation in Malaysia", International Journal of Health Governance, Vol. 27 No. 1, pp. 76-86. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHG-05-2021-0055
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited