Date of Graduation
Fall 12-12-2025
Document Access
Project/Capstone - Global access
Degree Name
Master of Public Health (MPH)
College/School
School of Nursing and Health Professions
Department/Program
Public Health
First Advisor
Marcianna Nosek
Abstract
Abstract
Background.
Several factors contribute to the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases, affecting coverage rates and vaccine uptake during recent outbreaks. The pandemic has underscored how crucial it is to comprehend vaccine literacy, as this understanding influences people's perspectives and behaviors toward vaccination, particularly in their approaches to problem-solving and decision-making.
Objective.
The present study conducts a scoping review of research on the impact of vaccine literacy and vaccine uptake on the re-emergence of vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States, framed by the social ecological model (SEM).
Design.
PubMed and Google Scholar were utilized as online databases to identify papers published between 2015 and 2025. The study included 21 articles, focusing on vaccine literacy or health literacy as a primary or secondary outcome, and encompassing different demographics and populations.
Results.
The majority of publications (67%) reported cross-sectional studies, while the remaining 33% were qualitative (19%), narrative reviews (9.5%), and mixed methods (4.5%). Overall, 57% of the studies included the adult population, 38% examined parents, and 5% focused on children. Most studies (71%) employed surveys as a data collection method, while 19% used mixed methods and 10% analyzed secondary data. Researchers assessed vaccine literacy in 48% of the studies, health literacy in 33%, and knowledge in 10%; the remaining 9% did not evaluate any of these components. Overall, 90% of the studies indicated that lower vaccine or health literacy levels were associated with vaccine hesitancy in the most vulnerable populations identified in each study. In some cases, other factors prevented people from getting vaccinated despite high vaccine literacy levels (10%).
Conclusion.
This scoping review underscores the pivotal role of vaccine literacy in shaping vaccine uptake and preventing the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States. Lower vaccine and health literacy levels consistently correlated with vaccine hesitancy, particularly among vulnerable groups, while higher literacy generally supported acceptance.
Keywords.
Measles; pertussis; polio; vaccine literacy; health literacy; re-emergence; resurgence; outbreaks; vaccine hesitancy; vaccine uptake.
Recommended Citation
Rodriguez Lenarduzzi, Glenda Dorina, "Factors Influencing the Re-emergence of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Using the Social Ecological Model: A Scoping Review" (2025). Master's Projects and Capstones. 1937.
https://repository.usfca.edu/capstone/1937
