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 p
otential 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.
