Parental Attitudes and Hesitancy About Covid-19 vs. Routine Childhood Vaccinations

A National Survey

Bibliographic Data

ID22071908
AuthorsMohamad‐Hani Temsah (0000-0002-4389-9322, King Saud University), Mohamad-Hani Temsah, Abdullah N Alhuzaimi, Abdullah Alhuzaimi (0000-0002-9380-079X, King Saud Medical City), Fadi Aljamaan (0000-0001-8404-6652, King Saud University), Feras Bahkali (King Saud University), Ayman Al‐eyadhy (0000-0002-6051-9125, King Saud University), Ayman Al-Eyadhy, Abdulkarim Alrabiaah (King Saud University), Ali Alhaboob (0000-0003-2126-7874, King Saud University), Fahad A Bashiri (0000-0003-1436-6727, King Saud University), Ahmad Alshaer, Ahmad A Alshaer (King Saud University), Omar Temsah (Alfaisal University), Rolan Bassrawi (0000-0001-7373-1531, King Saud University), Fatimah Alshahrani (0000-0002-4646-7488, King Saud Medical City), Yazan Chaiah (Alfaisal University), Ali Alaraj (0000-0002-7706-2328, Qassim University), Rasha Assiri (0000-0001-8946-4618, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University), Rasha Assad Assiri, Amr Jamal (0000-0002-4051-6592, King Saud Medical City, corresponding author), Mohammed A Batais (0000-0001-6766-7553, King Saud Medical City), Basema Saddik (0000-0002-4682-5927, University of Sharjah), Rabih Halwani (0000-0002-6516-7771, University of Sharjah), Fahad Alzamil (0000-0002-7436-8890, King Saud University), Ziad A Memish (0000-0002-5099-0714, Alfaisal University), Mazin Barry (0000-0003-2274-007X, King Saud Medical City), Sarah Alsubaie (0000-0002-3128-5921, King Saud University), Sarah Al-Subaie, Jaffar A Al-Tawfiq (0000-0002-5752-2235, Johns Hopkins University), Khalid Alhasan (0000-0002-4291-8536, King Saud University)
Year2021
Volume9
Pages752323-752323
Publication date2021-10-13
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
PublisherFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2021.752323
PMID34722451
OpenAlexW3207809949
LanguageEN
Citations received32
References cited34

Objectives: To quantify parental acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine and assess the vaccine hesitancy (VH) for COVID-19 vs. childhood vaccines. Methods: Eight vaccine hesitancy scale (VHS) items, adopted from WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Immunization (SAGE), were used to assess VH for COVID-19 vaccine vs. routine childhood vaccines. We distributed the online survey to parents with the commence of the national childhood COVID-19 vaccination program in Saudi Arabia. Results: Among 3,167 parents, 47.6% are decided to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. The most common reasons for refusal were inadequate safety information (69%) and worry about side effects (60.6%). Parents have a significantly greater positive attitudes toward children's routine vaccines vs. the COVID-19 vaccine, with higher mean VHS (±SD) = 2.98 ± 0.58 vs. 2.63 ± 0.73, respectively ( p -value < 0.001). Parents agreed more that routine childhood vaccines are more essential and effective as compared to the COVID-19 vaccine (Cohen's D: 0.946, and 0.826, consecutively; T -test p -value < 0.00). There is more parental anxiety about serious side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine vs. routine childhood vaccines (Cohen's D = 0.706, p -value < 0.001). Parents who relied on the Ministry of Health information were more predicted (OR = 1.28, p -value = 0.035) to intend to vaccinate as opposed to those who used the WHO website (OR = 0.47, −53%, p -value < 0.001). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, the factors associated with intention to vaccinate children were parents who received COVID-19 vaccine, older parents, having children aged 12–18, and parents with lower education levels. Conclusions: Significant proportion of parents are hesitant about the COVID-19 vaccine because they are less confident in its effectiveness, safety, and whether it is essential for their children. Relying on the national official healthcare authority's website for the source of information was associated with increased acceptance of childhood COVID-19 vaccination. As parental intention to vaccinate children against COVID-19 is suboptimal, healthcare authorities could boost vaccine uptake by campaigns targeting hesitant parents

Anxiety · Disease · Family medicine · Psychiatry · Vaccination · Worry · COVID-19 Impact on Reproduction · Medicine · SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research · Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy · Immunology · Internal Medicine · Pediatrics

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