vaccine refusal

Vaccine refusal is the deliberate choice not to receive or allow vaccination, typically for oneself or one's children.

The term usually implies rejecting vaccines despite medical recommendation, distinguishing it from cases where access or eligibility is the barrier.

Reasons range from religious beliefs to safety concerns to distrust of medical institutions: The school reported increasing vaccine refusal among incoming students.

The phrase carries clinical neutrality compared to more loaded terms like "anti-vaxxer."