Nurses as Vaccine Advocates: Effective Strategies for Overcoming Vaccine Hesitancy In the Pediatric Population

This study explored the role of nurses as vaccine advocates in addressing vaccine hesitancy among parents and guardians of pediatric patients. A qualitative descriptive phenomenological design was employed. Data were collected from nine registered nurses assigned to pediatric and immunization units through semi-structured interviews and were analyzed using Colaizzi’s phenomenological method. Findings revealed that vaccine hesitancy was influenced by fear of side effects, misinformation from social media, low health literacy, and cultural beliefs. Nurses served as health educators, counselors, advocates, and trust builders in promoting vaccine acceptance. Effective strategies included health education, empathetic communication, simple language, and trust-building techniques. Nurse-led interventions improved parental understanding and increased vaccine acceptance. However, challenges such as time constraints, parental resistance, communication barriers, and mistrust were encountered. The study concluded that nurses played a vital role in overcoming vaccine hesitancy and improving immunization outcomes. Continuous training, educational resources, and institutional support were recommended to strengthen nurses’ effectiveness in promoting childhood vaccination.