Discourses on “vaccine hesitancy” may not capture the full range of youth attitudes but may inadvertently label youth as ignorant and uneducated.

Not all young people are COVID-19 vaccine hesitant, but instead vaccination uptake is patterned by age, experiences of deprivation, and family and peer influence.

Youth, particularly from deprived areas, face numerous challenges, some related to the pandemic. Young people reported experiences of racism and negative interactions with police. This may contribute to a sense of mistrust in the “system.”

Young people across contexts reported symptoms of depression and anxiety during the pandemic, which contributed to a lower sense of well-being.

Youth “vaccine hesitancy” is not just an individual phenomenon, but it depends on a young person’s experience of local history, political-economy, and social context.