EDUCAÇÃO EM SAÚDE COMO ESTRATÉGIA PARA O AUMENTO DA ADESÃO VACINAL INFANTIL

Abstract

Immunization is an essential intervention for collective protection and disease control. Although Brazil has made progress with the creation of the National Immunization Program (PNI) in 1973, the current scenario presents challenges, which have resulted in declining vaccination coverage and the resurgence of diseases such as measles. Nursing plays a vital role in health education, providing guidance to families and helping to overcome barriers to vaccination. The objective is to analyze the factors observed by the nursing team that contribute to caregivers’ resistance to childhood vaccination and to describe how health education contributes to increasing vaccine adherence. This is an Integrative Review conducted in databases such as BDEnf, Lilacs, Medline/PubMed, and SciELO, as well as the Virtual Health Library (VHL) and Google Scholar. The study is based on the role of nurses as health educators, supported by Law No. 7,498/1986 and COFEN Resolution No. 795, which provide ethical and legal support for guiding families and identifying barriers to vaccination. The results show that vaccine hesitancy is multifactorial, involving lack of trust in institutions, fear of adverse events, logistical barriers, and the influence of misinformation. Qualified listening and health education focused on the specific needs of parents emerge as effective strategies to strengthen the bond with health services. It is concluded that health education based on scientific evidence and continuous training for nurses are essential to combat misinformation and are vital to recovering vaccination targets, ensuring comprehensive protection and increasing children's life expectancy.