Baumer-Mouradian SH, Hart RJ, Bone JN, Seiler M, Olson P, Keitel K, Manzano S, Gualco G, Krupik D, Schroter S, Weigert RM, Chung S, Thompson GC, Muhammad N, Shah P, Gaucher NO, Lunoe MM, Evers M, Pharisa Rochat C, Nelson CE, Shefler Gal M, Doucas A, Goldman RD. Should COVID-19 Vaccines Be Mandated in Schools? - An International Caregiver Perspective.
Vaccine 2022;
40:5384-5390. [PMID:
35945047 PMCID:
PMC9339978 DOI:
10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.07.038]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Objectives
Caregiver attitudes toward mandating COVID-19 vaccines for their children are poorly understood. We aimed to determine caregiver acceptability of COVID-19 vaccine mandates for schools/daycares and assess if opposition to mandates would result in removal of children from the educational system.
Study Design
Perform a cross-sectional, anonymous survey of adult caregivers with children ≤ 18 years presenting to 21 pediatric emergency departments in the United States, Canada, Israel, and Switzerland, November 1st through December 31st, 2021. The primary outcome was caregiver acceptance rates for school vaccine mandates, and the secondary outcomes included factors associated with mandate acceptance and caregiver intention to remove the child from school.
Results
Of 4,393 completed surveys, 37% of caregivers were opposed to any school vaccine mandate. Caregiver acceptance was lowest for daycare settings (33%) and increased as the child’s level of education increased, college (55%). 26% of caregivers report a high likelihood (score of 8–10 on 0–10 scale) to remove their child from school if the vaccine became mandatory. Child safety was caregivers’ greatest concern over vaccine mandates. A multivariable model demonstrated intent to vaccinate their child for COVID-19 (OR = 8.9, 95% CI 7.3 to 10.8; P < 0.001) and prior COVID-19 vaccination for the caregiver (OR = 3.8, 95% CI 3.0 to 4.9; P < 0.001) had the greatest odds of increasing mandate acceptance for any school level.
Conclusions
Many caregivers are resistant to COVID-19 vaccine mandates for schools, and acceptance varies with school level. One-fourth of caregivers plan to remove their child from the educational system if vaccines become mandated.
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