Vaccine Literacy and Vaccination: A Systematic Review

Int J Public Health. 2023 Feb 14:68:1605606. doi: 10.3389/ijph.2023.1605606. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Objectives: Vaccine literacy (VL) is an essential component of health literacy and is regarded as the promising technique for eliminating vaccine hesitancy. This review summarizes the relationship between VL and vaccination, including vaccine hesitancy, vaccination attitude, vaccination intention, and vaccination uptake. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library databases. Studies that explored the relationship between VL and vaccination were included, and the PRISMA recommendations were followed. Results: 1523 studies were found, and 21 articles were selected. The earliest article was published in 2015 and focused on the HPV vaccination and VL of female college students. Three studies surveyed parents' VL about childhood vaccinations, and the remaining 17 focused on COVID-19 VL in different groups. Conclusion: Although VL plays a role in determining the level of vaccine hesitancy across various populations, the association remains unclear. In the future, additional assessment methods could be developed and used to conduct prospective cohort and longitudinal studies to determine the causal relationship between VL and vaccination.

Keywords: health literacy; vaccination; vaccination attitude; vaccine hesitancy; vaccine literacy.

Publication types

  • Systematic Review
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Papillomavirus Vaccines* / therapeutic use
  • Prospective Studies
  • Vaccination

Substances

  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • Papillomavirus Vaccines

Grants and funding

This study was supported by grants from the three-year action plan for the construction of Shanghai’s public health system (2020–2022), academic leaders cultivating project (GWV-10.2-XD33), an Innovative research team of high-level local universities in Shanghai (SHSMU-ZDCX20212801), and Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Nursing Student Innovation Training Program (HLDC21-05). The study sponsor/funder was not involved in the study’s design; the collection, analysis, or interpretation of data; and the writing of the report and did not impose any restrictions regarding the publication of the information.