Vaccine hesitancy: what if listening made all the difference?

By Ana Espino | Published on April 2, 2026 | 4 min read


Parental vaccine hesitancy remains a major public health challenge in France, despite the extension of mandatory childhood vaccinations since 2018. Vaccination coverage remains insufficient and marked by persistent delays, maintaining a non-negligible risk of epidemic resurgence.

Traditional information-based strategies have shown limited effectiveness in changing vaccination behaviors. In this context, individualized approaches such as motivational interviewing (MI), based on active listening and resolving ambivalence, are emerging as promising tools.  

This study, published in 2026 in Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, aimed to evaluate the sustained impact of an MI-based intervention on vaccine hesitancy and vaccination intentions among postpartum mothers in France.  

Does motivational interviewing have a lasting effect?  

The authors conducted a multicenter randomized controlled trial including 733 mothers recruited from two maternity units in southeastern France between 2021 and 2022. Participants were assigned either to an MI intervention delivered by midwives or to a control group receiving written educational materials.  

Outcomes were assessed using a vaccine hesitancy score (0–100) and vaccination intention (1–10), measured before the intervention, immediately afterward, and at 7 months.  

At follow-up, results showed a significant reduction in vaccine hesitancy in the MI group, with a decrease of −10.1 points compared to the control group (p < 0.0001). This reduction was observed regardless of education level or financial status, suggesting broad effectiveness.  

At the same time, vaccination intention increased significantly, with a gain of +0.8 points (p = 0.01) in the MI group. Data presented in tables (pages 5 and 6) confirm the robustness of these findings after adjustment for confounding factors.  

Importantly, the effects observed immediately after the intervention were maintained at 7 months, indicating sustained behavioral change. This durability may be explained by the personalized nature of MI, which promotes trust, autonomy, and engagement.  

A sustainable strategy to improve vaccine confidence  

Vaccine hesitancy remains a critical issue requiring effective and durable strategies. This study aimed to assess the long-term impact of motivational interviewing in this context.

The findings show that MI leads to a significant and sustained reduction in vaccine hesitancy, along with increased vaccination intentions, regardless of socioeconomic factors.  

However, some limitations should be noted, including the absence of direct measurement of actual vaccination coverage and a potential selection bias related to follow-up.  

Despite these limitations, the results support the potential of MI as a key communication tool in public health. In the long term, its broader implementation—particularly in maternity settings and among other at-risk populations—could contribute to lasting improvements in vaccine confidence and coverage.  

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About the author – Ana Espino
PhD in Immunology, specialized in Virology  
As a scientific writer, Ana is passionate about bridging the gap between research and real-world impact. With expertise in immunology, virology, oncology, and clinical studies, she makes complex science clear and accessible. Her mission: to accelerate knowledge sharing and empower evidence-based decisions through impactful communication.