Not Just a Mother’s Responsibility: Gender, Care and Institutional Influences in Parental Vaccine Hesitancy in Russia

The cultural emphasis on mothers' individual responsibility and choice regarding their children's health is often considered a key factor behind vaccine hesitancy, especially among the middle class in Western countries. Drawing on qualitative interviews with vaccine-hesitant Russian mothers, this article broadens this discussion in two ways. First, it shifts the focus from women as autonomous decision-makers to examining how they share vaccination-related responsibilities with other family members. Second, it situates these dynamics within Russian healthcare and childcare-institutional settings where neoliberal trends coexist with socialist legacies and strong state control. The study shows that beneath the surface of responsibilised and seemingly individualistic mothering lies a network of care and familial commitment that frames vaccination decision-making. This is particularly relevant for institutional contexts that promote individual health responsibility without consistently supporting it, thereby fuelling parental distrust in vaccinations and making family involvement essential for navigating volatile welfare environments.