(Un)certainties surrounding childhood vaccination in Portugal: the citizens’ perspective

Abstract

There are few studies in Portugal that address the issue of vaccine postponement or refusal, which jeopardises the clarification and demystification of existing doubts about vaccination, as well as the development of intervention strategies. Based on a public consultation on science communication, we analysed citizens’ perceptions of adherence to vaccination, as well as postponement or refusal. Generational differences were found at different levels of knowledge about vaccination, which may lead to different attitudes. The reports collected reveal concerns about the emergence of alternative practices to vaccination and their possible expansion. They also point to the centrality assumed both by the sources of information selected and by the communication flows carried out with health professionals when it comes to decisions based on scientific evidence.