Building Parental Trust in Childhood Vaccination: Lessons From Iran’s COVID-19 Response

ince the 18th century, when Edward Jenner introduced vaccination to control smallpox, humanity has mitigated numerous pandemics through this method. 1Vaccines, comprising pathogen components or weakened/inactivated forms, stimulate the immune system to generate memory for future pathogen responses.Pandemic experiences underscore that safe, effective, affordable vaccines with equitable distribution are vital for societal health and well-being. 2 Achieving herd immunity to halt infectious disease spread requires policy-makers to provide vaccines cost-effectively and equitably while fostering public trust and acceptance.Factors like social, economic, cultural, religious influences, misinformation, and health literacy impact vaccine uptake. 3accinating all, including children, is crucial; it prevents child hospitalizations and deaths, reduces social isolation and educational disruptions, and curbs transmission to vulnerable individuals. 4OVID-19 emerged in Iran with confirmed cases reported on February 19, 2020, in Qom, though evidence indicates an earlier start in January 2020.By August 2020, official figures exceeded 350 000 cases and 20 000 deaths.As of 2022, cumulative cases reached over 7.2 million with approximately 141 000 deaths. 5 Iran faced multifaceted challenges in managing the COVID-19 pandemic, exacerbated by international sanctions that impeded imports of essential medical supplies, leading to shortages and heightened mortality. 6Governance flaws in the National Headquarters Against COVID-19, including poor coordination and contradictory policies, eroded public trust and compliance, with adherence dropping below 40%.Health system strains involved inadequate physical structures, human resource shortages, fatigue, and financial constraints, necessitating inter-sectoral reforms. 7Additionally, influential