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Hodwitz K, Wigle J, Juando-Prats C, Allan K, Li X, Fallon B, Birken CS, Maguire JL, Parsons JA. Physicians' perspectives on COVID-19 vaccinations for children: a qualitative exploration in Ontario, Canada. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e081694. [PMID: 39025822 PMCID: PMC11288156 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-081694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Parents' decisions to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 are complex and often informed by discussions with primary care physicians. However, little is known about physicians' perspectives on COVID-19 vaccinations for children or their experiences counselling parents in their decision-making. We explored physicians' experiences providing COVID-19 vaccination recommendations to parents and their reflections on the contextual factors that shaped these experiences. DESIGN We conducted an interpretive qualitative study using in-depth interviews. We analyzed the data using reflexive thematic analysis and a socioecological framework. SETTING This study involved primary care practices associated with The Applied Research Group for Kids (TARGet Kids!) primary care research network in the Greater Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada. PARTICIPANTS Participants were 10 primary care physicians, including family physicians, paediatricians and paediatric subspecialists. RESULTS Participants discussed elements at the individual level (their identity, role, and knowledge), the interpersonal level (their relationships with families, responsiveness to parents' concerns, and efforts to build trust) and structural level (contextual factors related to the evolving COVID-19 climate, health system pandemic response, and constraints on care delivery) that influenced their experiences providing recommendations to parents. Our findings illustrated that physicians' interactions with families were shaped by a confluence of their own perspectives, their responses to parents' perspectives, and the evolving landscape of the broader pandemic. CONCLUSIONS Our study underscores the social and relational nature of vaccination decision-making and highlights the multiple influences on primary care physicians' experiences providing COVID-19 vaccination recommendations to parents. Our findings offer suggestions for future COVID-19 vaccination programmes for children. Delivery of new COVID-19 vaccinations for children may be well suited within primary care offices, where trusting relationships are established, but physicians need support in staying knowledgeable about emerging information, communicating available evidence to parents to inform their decision-making and dedicating time for vaccination counselling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn Hodwitz
- Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jannah Wigle
- Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Clara Juando-Prats
- Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kate Allan
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Xuedi Li
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Barbara Fallon
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Catherine S. Birken
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jonathon L. Maguire
- Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Janet A. Parsons
- Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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MacDonald SE, Reifferscheid L, Paudel YR, Robinson J. Patterns in COVID-19 vaccination among children aged 5-11 years in Alberta, Canada: Lessons for future vaccination campaigns. PUBLIC HEALTH IN PRACTICE 2024; 7:100467. [PMID: 38318226 PMCID: PMC10838944 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhip.2024.100467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives In Alberta, Canada, the COVID-19 vaccination program for children aged 5-11 years was launched on November 26, 2021. Our objectives were to determine the cumulative vaccine coverage, stratified by age, during the first thirteen months of vaccine availability, and investigate factors associated with vaccine uptake. Study design This retrospective cohort study used population-based administrative health data. Methods We determined cumulative vaccine coverage among 5-11 year olds, stratified by year of age, during the first thirteen months of vaccine availability and used a modified Poisson regression to evaluate factors associated with vaccine uptake. Results Of 377,103 eligible children, 44.8 % (n = 168,761) received one or more doses of COVID-19 vaccine during the study period (9.7 % received only one dose, while 35.1 % received 2 doses). Almost 90 % of initial doses were received within the first two months of vaccine availability. We found a step-wise relationship between increasing child age and higher vaccine coverage. Conclusions Plateaued vaccine uptake indicates a need to adapt programmatic efforts to encourage parents to act on positive vaccination intentions, and reach the large contingent of parents who have reported that they remain undecided. In order to promote vaccine uptake, messaging around vaccine safety and need should be tailored to child age, rather than uniformly applied across the 5-11 year age range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon E. MacDonald
- Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - Yuba Raj Paudel
- Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Joan Robinson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Wang B, McDonough J, Chen G, Ong JJ, Marshall H. Sociodemographic factors and attitudes associated with Australian parental acceptance of paediatric COVID-19 vaccination. Vaccine 2023; 41:7608-7617. [PMID: 37996291 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.11.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The COVID-19 vaccine coverage among children in countries where COVID-19 vaccines are recommended has been suboptimal. Conflicting information in the media leads to parental anxiety and confusion around COVID-19 vaccination in children. The scepticism expressed by certain experts regarding the importance of COVID-19 vaccines in children has also had a negative impact on parental attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination. This study aimed to understand parental concerns and preferences for paediatric COVID-19 vaccination, and identify potential vaccination promotion ("nudge") interventions to optimise paediatric COVID-19 vaccine uptake. METHODS Mixed methods including Focus Group Discussions and a Discrete Choice Experiment survey were used. The Discrete Choice Experiment survey design was based on a literature review and the findings of Focus Group Discussions. The study was conducted on a nationally representative sample of parents in Australia. RESULTS In total, 1039 parents participated in the study. Parents showed strong preferences for a COVID-19 vaccine with lower risk of serious side effects and longer protection duration, followed by higher vaccine effectiveness and delivery via oral tablets. Promotion strategies were similarly preferred by parents. Latent class logit analysis identified three groups, interpretable as COVID-19 vaccine "accepters (35.3%)", "deliberators (31.7%)", and "rejecters (33.1%)". The "deliberators" composed of more parents, residing in metropolitan areas, having concerns about vaccine effectiveness, and believing that disease risks outweigh vaccine benefits than the "accepters". The "rejecters" were more likely to not be vaccinated themselves, and generally have less trust in vaccines than the "accepters". The "deliberators" and "rejecters" were less likely to be parents aged ≥25 years and complete final year of high school than the "accepters". CONCLUSIONS Parents' sociodemographic factors and vaccine perceptions were associated with different levels of acceptance toward paediatric COVID-19 vaccination, which may help to better understand how to "nudge" vaccine hesitancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Wang
- Vaccinology and Immunology Research Trials Unit, Women's and Children's Health Network, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; Robinson Research Institute and Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
| | - Joshua McDonough
- Vaccinology and Immunology Research Trials Unit, Women's and Children's Health Network, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; Robinson Research Institute and Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Gang Chen
- Centre for Health Economics, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jason J Ong
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Helen Marshall
- Vaccinology and Immunology Research Trials Unit, Women's and Children's Health Network, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; Robinson Research Institute and Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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Thabit AK, Badr AF, Jad L, Jose J, Kaae S, Jacobsen R, Al-Saudi G. Views and perceptions of the public toward COVID-19 vaccine in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Pharm J 2023; 31:942-947. [PMID: 37197386 PMCID: PMC10165864 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2023.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Numerous surveys studied individuals' decision to receive COVID-19 vaccine but the motives behind accepting or refusing COVID-19 vaccines are not yet fully understood. We aimed to more qualitatively explore the views and perceptions toward COVID-19 vaccines in Saudi Arabia to provide recommendations to mitigate the vaccine hesitancy issue. Methods Open-ended interviews were conducted between October 2021-January 2022. The interview guide included questions about beliefs in vaccine efficacy and safety, and previous vaccination history. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and the content was analyzed using thematic analysis. Nineteen participants were interviewed. Results All of the interviewees were vaccine acceptors; however, three participants were hesitant as they felt they were forced to receive it. Several themes emerged as the reasons to accept or refuse the vaccine. The key reasons behind vaccine acceptance were the sense of obligation to fulfill a governmental command, trust in the government decisions, vaccine availability, and the impact of family/friends. The main reason behind vaccine hesitancy was doubts regarding vaccine efficacy and safety and that vaccines were pre-invented, and the pandemic is made-up. Participants' sources of information included social media, official authorities, and family/friends. Conclusion Findings from this study show that the convenience of receiving the vaccine, the abundance of credible information from the Saudi authorities, and the positive influence of family/friends were among the major factors that encouraged the public in Saudi Arabia to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Such results may inform future policies regarding encouraging the public to receive vaccines in cases of pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abrar K. Thabit
- Pharmacy Practice Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Aisha F. Badr
- Pharmacy Practice Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Lama Jad
- Pharmacy Practice Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jimmy Jose
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nizwa, Nizwa, Oman
| | - Susanne Kaae
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ramune Jacobsen
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ghuna Al-Saudi
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Ajana B, Engstler E, Ismail A, Kousta M. Perceptions and attitudes towards Covid-19 vaccines: narratives from members of the UK public. ZEITSCHRIFT FUR GESUNDHEITSWISSENSCHAFTEN = JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 31:1-17. [PMID: 35789880 PMCID: PMC9244123 DOI: 10.1007/s10389-022-01728-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Aim The aim of the paper is to enhance understanding of how members of the public make sense of the Covid-19 vaccines and to understand the factors influencing their attitudes towards such artefacts of pandemic governance. Methods The paper draws on 23 online in-depth interviews with members of the UK public and builds on relevant literature to examine participants' perceptions of the benefits and risks of Covid-19 vaccines, the sources that have shaped their attitudes, and the level of trust they have towards the government's handling of the pandemic through vaccines. Results The findings indicate that participants generally felt that the benefits of having the vaccine outweigh the risks and that Covid-19 vaccines are a crucial mechanism for enabling society to return to normal. Vaccine acceptance was, for some, strongly linked to a sense of social responsibility and the duty to protect others. However, some participants expressed concerns with regard to the side-effects of Covid-19 vaccines and their perceived potential impact on fertility and DNA makeup. Participants used various sources of information to learn about Covid-19 vaccines and understand their function, benefits, and risks. The majority of participants criticised the government's response during the early stages of the pandemic yet felt positive about the vaccine rollout. Conclusion Just as with any other vaccination programme, the success of the Covid-19 immunisation campaigns does not only depend on the efficacy of the vaccines themselves or the ability to secure access to them, but also on a myriad of other factors which include public compliance and trust in governments and health authorities. To support an effective immunisation campaign that is capable of bringing the pandemic to an end, governments need to understand public concerns, garner trust, and devise adequate strategies for engaging the public and building more resilient societies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Btihaj Ajana
- Department of Digital Humanities, King’s College London, Strand Campus, London, WC2R 2LS UK
| | - Elena Engstler
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King’s College London, 5 Cutcombe Road, London, Brixton SE5 9RT UK
| | - Anas Ismail
- Department of Population Health and Environmental Sciences, King’s College London, Guy’s Campus, London, SE1 1UL UK
| | - Marina Kousta
- Department of Global Health & Social Medicine, King’s College London, Bush House, North East Wing, 40 Aldwych, London, WC2B 4BG UK
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