The World Health Organization included vaccine hesitancy on the list of threats to global health in 2019. Vaccine hesitancy is a complex matter, with reasons for not vaccinating ranging from accessibility to personal belief. While the reasons may vary, the global effect of not vaccinating has created significant issues.

While all states have school immunization laws that grant exemptions to children for medical reasons, not all states grant exemptions for religious or philosophical reasons. The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) examines which states, as of 2019, have religious and philosophical exemptions.

The fear of a link between vaccines and autism has created a major public health issue. An evidence-based meta-analysis of case-control and cohort studies found that the components in vaccines (both thimerosal and mercury) or obtaining multiple vaccines at once (i.e MMR vaccine) is not associated with the development of autism spectrum disorder.

Marcella Bobinksy, Executive Director of the KV Foundation, compares National Immunization Survey (NIS) Numbers from two universal-select states and then compares one universal state to one universal-select state. She found that when medical providers have universal access to recommended childhood and adolescent vaccines, more children are vaccinated.

There are many significant benefits to universal vaccine policies. Improved accessibility is one the major benefits because both privately and publicly insured children and adults have access to vaccines. The roadblock of not being able to afford vaccines is no longer an issue.