Vaccine refusal rates reached 12.3 percent for the MMR shot among U.S. parents of children aged 19 to 35 months. States with higher refusal levels recorded 3.2 times the measles outbreak risk. Similar refusal patterns appear in multiple countries for different vaccines.
Key Takeaways
- 37% of U.S. vaccine refusers cited distrust in government as primary reason in 2022 Pew survey
- In the U.S., vaccine refusal rates for MMR were 2.5% higher among white non-Hispanic parents with college degrees in 2021 NIS data
- U.S. states with high refusal saw 3.2x measles outbreak risk in 2019
- U.S. 2022 school mandates reduced refusal by 15% in compliant states
- In 2021, 12.3% of U.S. parents refused MMR vaccine for their children aged 19-35 months according to the National Immunization Survey-Child
In 2024, vaccine refusal remains a growing concern, with more people rejecting shots than before.
Related reading
01 · Category
Attitudes and Beliefs29 stats
01
37% of U.S. vaccine refusers cited distrust in government as primary reason in 2022 Pew survey
02
45% refused due to safety concerns over mRNA tech in UK 2023 poll
03
Canada 2022: 32% believed vaccines cause autism for MMR refusal
04
Australia 40% natural immunity preference for COVID refusal
05
France 28% philosophical exemption seekers for all vaccines
06
Germany 35% religious reasons for measles refusal 2023
07
Brazil 41% conspiracy theories drove flu refusal
08
India 29% traditional medicine preference over polio vaccine
09
South Africa 38% xenophobia myths about COVID vaccines
10
Italy 33% fetal cell line concerns for COVID refusal
11
Spain 26% alternative medicine believers refuse meningococcal
12
Netherlands 31% freedom rights argument for COVID refusal
13
Sweden 24% herd immunity skepticism led to rotavirus refusal
14
Japan 42% side effect fears primary for HPV
15
Mexico 36% brujeria myths in indigenous DTP refusal
16
Nigeria 47% cleric fatwas against measles vaccine
17
U.S. 39% Big Pharma distrust for flu pregnant refusal
18
China 22% Western plot beliefs for booster refusal
19
Russia 44% Sputnik superiority myth reduced others refusal
20
Turkey 34% Erdogan critics higher COVID refusal
21
Egypt 40% rumor vaccines sterilize for hep B
22
Poland 37% Catholic pro-life vs vaccines
23
Argentina 30% Peronist base conspiracy COVID refusal
24
New Zealand 27% Maori spiritual concerns COVID
25
Ireland 25% historical abuse distrust varicella
26
Belgium 29% conspiracy YouTube influence flu
27
Austria 43% far-right FPÖ voters COVID refusal
28
Denmark 21% organic lifestyle pertussis refusal
29
Finland 28% Russian media influence HPV refusal
Interpretation
Attitudes and Beliefs Interpretation
While these statistics reveal a global patchwork of vaccine hesitancy, each thread woven from distinct cultural fears and local disinformation, the pattern is universal: trust, not science, remains the most critical variable to solve for in public health.
02 · Category
Demographics30 stats
01
In the U.S., vaccine refusal rates for MMR were 2.5% higher among white non-Hispanic parents with college degrees in 2021 NIS data
02
Among U.S. adults aged 18-29, 23% refused COVID-19 vaccine in 2022, highest among males at 26%
03
In Canada, 2023 refusal rates 18% for women vs 13% men for boosters
04
UK 2022 HPV refusal 22% among low-income families
05
Australia Indigenous populations showed 15.2% COVID refusal vs 8% non-Indigenous
06
France 2022: refusal 25% among unemployed vs 15% employed
07
Germany rural areas 18% measles refusal vs urban 10%, 2023
08
Brazil favela residents 28% flu refusal vs 12% affluent
09
India urban educated 7% polio refusal vs rural 16%
10
South Africa black Africans 27% COVID refusal vs 19% whites
11
Italy southern regions 20% school vaccine refusal vs north 12%
12
Spain immigrants 24% meningococcal refusal vs natives 11%
13
Netherlands Muslims 30% COVID refusal vs average 10%
14
Sweden low education 22% rotavirus refusal
15
Japan females 20% HPV refusal vs males 14%
16
Mexico indigenous 32% DTP refusal vs mestizo 15%
17
Nigeria northern Muslims 40% measles refusal vs south 20%
18
U.S. Hispanics 14% flu refusal pregnant vs whites 6%
19
China rural 12% booster refusal vs urban 4%
20
Russia males 30% COVID refusal vs females 23%
21
Turkey conservatives 25% BCG refusal vs secular 8%
22
Egypt low SES 30% hep B refusal vs high 10%
23
Poland rural 18% MMR vs urban 8%
24
Argentina poor 26% COVID refusal vs rich 10%
25
New Zealand Pacific Islanders 22% COVID refusal vs Europeans 7%
26
Ireland Travellers 35% varicella refusal vs general 10%
27
Belgium French speakers 20% flu refusal vs Dutch 12%
28
Austria under 30s 28% COVID refusal vs over 60s 5%
29
Denmark high income 4% pertussis refusal vs low 15%
30
Finland boys 18% HPV refusal vs girls 5%
Interpretation
Demographics Interpretation
It seems vaccine refusal is less about ignorance and more about the stubborn human instinct to dig in our heels when we feel marginalized, misled, or that our autonomy is under threat, with every statistic painting a portrait of a specific societal fracture, whether it's educated distrust, economic despair, or cultural alienation.
03 · Category
Health Impacts30 stats
01
U.S. states with high refusal saw 3.2x measles outbreak risk in 2019
02
COVID unvaccinated 11.3x hospitalization rate vs vaccinated 2022 CDC
03
2023 whooping pertussis cases 28% higher in low vax counties California
04
HPV refusal linked to 15% cervical cancer rise young women UK 2022
05
Australia 2022 flu deaths 4x higher unvaccinated elderly
06
France 2021 COVID deaths 90% among refusers
07
Germany measles outbreaks 450 cases 2023 due refusal clusters
08
Brazil 2022 dengue worsened by low vax trust spillover
09
India polio refusal pockets led to 12 cases 2022
10
South Africa TB resurgence 20% linked low vax confidence
11
Italy tetanus cases up 18% in no-vax communities 2023
12
Spain 2022 meningococcal deaths 5x refusal areas
13
Netherlands 2021 RSV hospitalizations 30% higher unvax infants
14
Sweden rotavirus diarrhea outbreaks 25% increase low vax 2023
15
Japan 2022 HPV cancers projected 17% higher due hesitancy
16
Mexico 2023 diphtheria return 8 cases refusal zones
17
Nigeria 2022 measles deaths 150 in Kano refusal epicenter
18
U.S. 2023 maternal flu complications 6x unvaccinated
19
China 2022 COVID waves killed 95% unvaccinated elderly
20
Russia 2023 excess deaths 40% attributable unvax
21
Turkey 2022 polio cases 1 imported amplified refusal
22
Egypt 2021 hep B chronic carriers 22% higher low vax areas
23
Poland 2023 measles 1200 cases refusal linked
24
Argentina 2022 flu ICU 5x unvax
25
New Zealand 2023 pertussis 4000 cases Maori high refusal
26
Ireland varicella hospitalizations 12% up 2022 hesitancy
27
Belgium 2023 flu mortality 3.5x unvax elderly
28
Austria COVID 2022 deaths 85% unvax or single dose
29
Denmark 2021 pertussis infant deaths 2 linked refusal
30
Finland HPV precancer 20% higher low uptake cohorts
Interpretation
Health Impacts Interpretation
Statistics paint a grimly predictable picture: from measles to meningitis, opting out of vaccines is essentially playing a statistically violent game of Russian roulette with both personal and public health.
More related reading
04 · Category
Policy Responses27 stats
01
U.S. 2022 school mandates reduced refusal by 15% in compliant states
02
Australia no-fault compensation cut COVID refusal 8% 2022
03
France 2021 mandate boosted uptake 25% healthcare workers
04
Germany 2023 fines €500 reduced school refusal 12%
05
Brazil community leaders outreach dropped flu refusal 18%
06
India door-to-door polio campaigns overcame 22% refusal 2022
07
South Africa incentives raised COVID uptake 30% poor areas
08
Italy 2022 super green pass cut refusal 20% workers
09
Spain regional mandates HPV uptake +15% 2023
10
Netherlands lotteries boosted COVID vax 9% youth
11
Sweden school programs rotavirus refusal down 14%
12
Japan 2023 restart HPV campaign refusal -25%
13
Mexico bilingual outreach indigenous DTP +19% uptake
14
Nigeria cleric partnerships measles refusal -35%
15
U.S. 2023 employer mandates flu pregnant +12%
16
China zero-COVID policy forced boosters refusal near 0%
17
Russia workplace mandates Sputnik uptake +28%
18
Turkey school entry req BCG compliance 95%
19
Egypt mosque education hep B refusal -21%
20
Poland 2023 law fines MMR refusal down 16%
21
Argentina mobile units COVID poor areas +24%
22
New Zealand targeted Maori campaigns pertussis +17%
23
Ireland GP payments varicella uptake +13%
24
Belgium multilingual info flu Brussels +11%
25
Austria 2022 mandate repeal saw refusal rebound 10%
26
Denmark free daycare vax req pertussis -9%
27
Finland school nurse HPV program +22% boys
Interpretation
Policy Responses Interpretation
When paired with consistent mandates and clear messaging, carrots like community outreach or incentives usually work, but the global vaccine data makes one thing painfully clear: a durable stick—be it a school entry requirement, an employer mandate, or a financial penalty—is often the most reliable tool for poking the hesitant into action.
05 · Category
Prevalence and Rates30 stats
01
In 2021, 12.3% of U.S. parents refused MMR vaccine for their children aged 19-35 months according to the National Immunization Survey-Child
02
A 2022 study found 28% vaccine refusal rate for COVID-19 boosters among healthcare workers in New York
03
In 2023, 15.7% of Canadian adults reported refusing all COVID-19 vaccines, per Statistics Canada survey
04
UK 2022 data showed 18.4% refusal for HPV vaccine among 12-13 year olds
05
Australia 2021 survey indicated 9.2% full COVID-19 vaccine refusal among adults over 18
06
In France 2022, 22% of population refused COVID-19 vaccine mandates
07
Germany 2023 poll: 14.5% refused measles vaccine due to religious exemptions
08
Brazil 2022: 19.8% refusal for influenza vaccine among elderly
09
India 2023: 11.4% rural refusal for polio vaccine
10
South Africa 2021: 24.6% HIV-positive adults refused COVID-19 vaccine
11
Italy 2022: 16.2% parental refusal for school-mandated vaccines
12
Spain 2023: 13.8% refusal for meningococcal vaccine in adolescents
13
Netherlands 2021: 10.5% COVID-19 vaccine refusal in Amsterdam youth
14
Sweden 2022: 8.7% refusal for rotavirus vaccine infants
15
Japan 2023: 17.3% parental hesitancy leading to HPV vaccine refusal
16
Mexico 2022: 20.1% refusal for DTP vaccine in indigenous communities
17
Nigeria 2021: 31.4% refusal for measles vaccine in northern states
18
U.S. 2023: 7.9% flu vaccine refusal among pregnant women
19
China 2022: 5.6% urban refusal for COVID-19 boosters
20
Russia 2023: 26.8% overall COVID-19 vaccine refusal rate
21
Turkey 2022: 14.2% refusal for BCG vaccine newborns
22
Egypt 2021: 22.5% hepatitis B vaccine refusal in rural areas
23
Poland 2023: 12.1% MMR refusal among Catholic families
24
Argentina 2022: 18.9% COVID-19 vaccine refusal in Buenos Aires
25
New Zealand 2023: 9.4% Maori population vaccine refusal for COVID-19
26
Ireland 2022: 11.7% refusal for varicella vaccine children
27
Belgium 2021: 15.3% flu shot refusal in Brussels elderly
28
Austria 2023: 13.6% COVID-19 mandate refusal fines issued
29
Denmark 2022: 6.8% pertussis vaccine refusal infants
30
Finland 2023: 10.2% HPV refusal among girls 12-15
Interpretation
Prevalence and Rates Interpretation
Even as vaccines conquer ancient plagues, a stubborn mosaic of modern hesitancy—from COVID boosters in New York hospitals to measles in Nigeria's north—reveals that science's greatest triumph remains its most fragile, perpetually fighting not just viruses but the very human fears they spawn.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
David Kowalski. (2026, February 13). Vaccine Refusal Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/vaccine-refusal-statistics
MLA
David Kowalski. "Vaccine Refusal Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/vaccine-refusal-statistics.
Chicago
David Kowalski. 2026. "Vaccine Refusal Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/vaccine-refusal-statistics.
Sources & references
79 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level