Vaccine hesitancy in the school community and among health personnel: a cross-sectional study

Vaccine hesitancy is a complex phenomenon influenced by factors such as complacency, convenience, confidence, context, and communication, which must be analyzed in their distinct and interrelated intersections. The school environment, given its strong influence on students, families, and local social networks, can be recognized as an important channel for knowledge dissemination and a favorable setting for debates focused on health promotion and the prevention of vaccine-preventable diseases. Objective To analyze vaccine hesitancy among education and health personnel, identifying associated sociodemographic and contextual factors. Methods This is a cross-sectional study conducted between August 2023 and April 2024, carried out from an online questionnaire whose respondents involving people from the school community (school managers and teachers) and public health units in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Results Statistically significant differences were observed regarding education level, marital status, age group, municipality size, perception of government and institutional influence, occupation, and family income. Higher scores – indicating greater agreement with favorable attitudes toward vaccination – were found among participants with postgraduate education, without a partner, of younger age, those who agreed that government decisions influence vaccination, who were health personnel and who had higher income, whereas teachers and those with intermediate education levels showed a greater tendency toward vaccine hesitancy. Conclusion This study reinforces the need for specific strategies targeting the school environment, both to strengthen educators’ confidence and to promote joint actions between the health and education sectors. Interventions that expand training for managers and teachers on vaccines, combined with transparent and contextualized public communication policies – empowering them as multipliers of reliable information – may help to alleviate doubts and increase vaccination adherence.