Vaccine skepticism rises in Päijät-Häme as families question childhood immunizations
Vaccine hesitancy is growing in Päijät-Häme’s child health clinics and school health services, with more families questioning the necessity of immunizations or refusing them entirely. The Päijät-Häme Wellbeing Services County reports that discussions about vaccines have become more frequent, particularly in Lahti, where public health nurses are encountering increased skepticism.
Social media, especially TikTok, is cited as a key factor in spreading vaccine-critical content that lacks scientific backing. Yle reports that service supervisor Petra Sjöberg from the wellbeing services county’s child health clinic services highlights how misinformation on these platforms influences families’ decisions. Some parents now view vaccines as unnecessary, as serious infectious diseases are no longer as visible in daily life as they were in past decades.
Religious and ideological influences
Complete refusal of vaccines is more common in large families, where skepticism is often tied to religious convictions or other ideologies. Yle notes that some families adopt a natural-living philosophy, abruptly discontinuing vaccinations after initially starting the program. Others stop mid-series due to mild side effects, such as minor gastrointestinal symptoms following the rotavirus vaccine, which Sjöberg emphasizes are typically harmless.
The wellbeing services county also observes a higher number of unvaccinated children starting school this year compared to previous years (Ilta-Sanomat). To address these concerns, child health clinics are engaging in more open discussions with parents, presenting factual information on both the benefits and risks of vaccines. Yle adds that since last autumn, the county has required consent from both guardians for a child’s vaccination, a measure aimed at ensuring parental agreement.
Efforts to strengthen trust
In response to growing hesitancy, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare provided training this spring to help public health nurses build trust with families. Despite the rise in skepticism, vaccination coverage in Päijät-Häme remains strong overall.
The recent increase in whooping cough cases has also drawn attention to vaccines, particularly the whooping cough immunization for pregnant women, which was added to Finland’s national vaccination program in July 2025 (Ilta-Sanomat). The disease’s resurgence has sparked broader discussions about the importance of immunization.