ABSTRACT
The development and employment of vaccines has had a dramatic effect, world-wide, on the incidence of infectious diseases. Early childhood illnesses, in particular, have virtually been eradicated in the United Kingdom by the implementation of a national policy of childhood vaccinations. Nevertheless, there is still a shortfall in the take up rates advocated by governments. If we take an example from the UK then we see that the target for major childhood vaccinations recommended before the age of 2 years is 95 per cent. There is, then, a small but significant proportion of the population-parents, professionals and others-who do not take their children for vaccination, and/or who argue strongly against their widespread use. Psychologists have had remarkably little to say about this preventive health behaviour. This chapter will review psychological studies to date and consider ways in which future studies could be of interest and importance in the field of vaccination.
