Pregnant individuals' information needs and intention to vaccinate their children with routine and COVID-19 vaccines: Findings from a cross-sectional survey

Parental hesitancy about COVID-19, influenza, HPV, and other childhood vaccines

BACKGROUND

Some public health professionals have expressed concern that the COVID-19 pandemic has increased vaccine hesitancy about routine childhood vaccines; however, the differential prevalence of vaccine hesitancy about specific vaccines has not been measured.

METHODS

Data from the National Immunization Survey-Child COVID-19 Module (NIS-CCM) were analyzed to assess the proportion of children ages 6 months-17 years who have a parent with hesitancy about: COVID-19, influenza, human papillomavirus (HPV) (for children ≥ 9 years) vaccines, and "all other childhood shots." Interviews from October 2022 through April 2023 were analyzed.

RESULTS

The percentage of children with a vaccine-hesitant parent varied by vaccine. 55.9% of children had a parent hesitant about COVID-19 vaccine, 30.9% hesitant about influenza vaccine, 30.1% hesitant about HPV vaccine, and 12.2% had a parent hesitant about other vaccines such as measles, polio, and tetanus.

CONCLUSION

The study findings suggest that differential interventions and communications to parents be used to educate about COVID-19, influenza, HPV, and routine childhood vaccinations because the hesitancy levels differ widely.

Pregnant individuals' information needs and intention to vaccinate their children with routine and COVID-19 vaccines: Findings from a cross-sectional survey

OBJECTIVE

The current study assessed pregnant individuals' intention to accept routine and COVID-19 vaccines for their baby after birth, and to identify key demographic (e.g., age) and nondemographic characteristics (e.g., prior birth) associated with vaccination intention.

METHODS

The authors conducted a cross-sectional survey with pregnant individuals attending prenatal practices affiliated with a large academic medical center and two rural county health departments in the southeastern United States. The survey included 11 questions and was self-administered by pregnant individuals in clinic settings. The final analysis included responses from 443 pregnant individuals.

RESULTS

Only 67% of pregnant individuals planned to vaccinate their baby with all recommended routine vaccines; an additional 22% reported having questions about recommendations. Only 35% of pregnant individuals said they would vaccinate their baby as soon as possible with a COVID-19 vaccine. Younger pregnant individuals and those identifying as Black or African American had lower routine and COVID-19 vaccination intention. Routine vaccination, but not COVID-19 vaccination intention, was associated with familiarity with routine vaccination schedule, trimester of pregnancy, Hispanic ethnicity, history of prior birth, and having access to a computer.

CONCLUSION

Study findings support differential tailoring of future interventions targeting pregnant individuals to promote routine and COVID-19 vaccines for children.