The Effect of Vaccine Literacy on Vaccine Hesitancy in Türkiye: The Mediating Role of Trust in the Health System

This research investigates the mediating role of trust in the healthcare system in the relationship between vaccine literacy and vaccine hesitancy among individuals residing in Türkiye.The study is grounded in the Health Belief Model and hypothesises that higher vaccine literacy and greater institutional trust are associated with reduced vaccine hesitancy, with trust functioning as a partial mediator.The study used a cross-sectional design to survey 400 people in Türkiye's Eastern Marmara region.The analysis involved employing descriptive methods, Pearson correlation analysis, and the utilisation of the Process Macro Model 4 in the context of regression analysis.The mean level of vaccine literacy among participants was 3.49 ± 0.66.The mean level of trust in the healthcare system was 3.44 ± 0.67, while the mean level of vaccine hesitancy was 2.33 ± 0.69.A low level of vaccine literacy can cause hesitancy towards vaccination.This effect is further clarified when trust in the health system is introduced as a mediating Vaccine Literacy &Vaccine Hesitancy Med & Health Jul 2026; 21(2): 1120-1135 variable.Enhancing vaccine literacy and strengthening institutional trust are key strategies for mitigating vaccine hesitancy.Transparent communication, dissemination of credible information and confidencebuilding health policies are essential for strengthening public acceptance of vaccination.