Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy Among Students and Families: Interventions for School Nurses

Abstract

Vaccine hesitance is a public health issue that school nurses often address in practice. It has become even more prevalent during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Vaccine compliance among schoolchildren is essential to the health of an entire community, given that many pediatric illnesses are vaccine-preventable. School nurses are involved in the promotion of vaccines in a school district, as they provide health education to students and families and are responsible for vaccine surveillance. Promoting vaccine compliance as a matter of public health can be challenging for school nurses, especially if a community holds strong beliefs regarding the necessity of pediatric vaccines. This article reviews the history of vaccine mandates, addresses challenges associated with vaccine compliance, and provides interventions school nurses can use when providing care to students and families regarding vaccine hesitancy. In following the nursing process, a school nurse is able to identify students missing vaccine(s) and evaluate for hesitancy, before implementing interventions that provide education to students and families. Several cost-efficient and accessible interventions can facilitate effective education and promote vaccine compliance. School nurses can forge trusting relationships and engage in compassionate dialogue to support vaccine compliance in the school.