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van de Berg S, Coyer L, von Both U, Scheuerer T, Kolberg L, Hoch M, Böhmer MM. Coverage and determinants of COVID-19 child vaccination in Munich, Germany in October 2022-January 2023: Results of the COVIP-Virenwächter study. Eur J Pediatr 2024:10.1007/s00431-024-05617-0. [PMID: 38850330 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-024-05617-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
COVID-19 vaccination reduces the risk of severe disease, in children as well as adults. We studied COVID-19 vaccination coverage among children, parental COVID-19 vaccination intent for their children and determinants of vaccination among children to inform communication strategies. We invited parents of children aged 6 months-11 years in Munich, Germany, to an anonymous online survey between 13.10.2022 and 15.01.2023. Parents reported COVID-19 vaccination status and, for unvaccinated children, vaccination intent per child. We determined vaccination coverage (≥ 1 dose) and parental intent, and subsequently used logistic regression to identify determinants of vaccination, including the 5C psychological antecedents of vaccination (confidence, complacency, constraints, calculation, collective responsibility). In total, 339 parents reported on 591 children. Vaccination coverage was 7% (6/86) amongst 6-months-4-year-olds and 59% (295/498) amongst 5-11-year-olds. For unvaccinated 6-months-4-year-olds, 31% of parents reported high, 13% medium, 56% low vaccination intent; for 5-11-year-olds 8% reported high, 20% medium, 71% low intent. Positive determinants of vaccination were older child age, child belonging to a clinically vulnerable group, as well as parental COVID-19 vaccination, higher education level, country of birth Germany, and high level of trust in official guidelines; a negative determinant was previous vaccination refusal. For 5-11-year-olds, additional positive determinants were higher confidence and lower complacency. Conclusion: While a substantial proportion of 5-11-year-olds were vaccinated against COVID-19, coverage was low among 6-months-4-year-olds. Parental vaccination intent for unvaccinated children was low. Vaccination communication should take into account parental socio-demographic characteristics and specifically address individual risks and benefits of child vaccination. What is Known: • COVID-19 vaccination lowers severe disease risk in all ages. • Germany recommends vaccination for 5-11-years-olds since December 2021 and for 6 months-4 year-olds since November 2022. What is New: • In Munich, vaccine uptake was high in 5-11-year-olds but parental intent for not yet vaccinated children was low; the opposite was the case for 6-months-4-year-olds; vaccination determinants were eligibility, parental education, birth country and general vaccination hesitancy; psychological antecedents were confidence and complacency. • Tailored interventions should address guidelines, health literacy, cultural sensitivity, and boost confidence in vaccines and institutions while raising awareness of COVID-19 risks for children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah van de Berg
- State Institute for Health II, Task Force for Infectious Diseases (GI), Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL), Lazarettstrasse 67, 80636, Munich, Germany.
- Postgraduate Training for Applied Epidemiology, Department for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany.
- ECDC Fellowship Programme, Field Epidemiology path (EPIET), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Liza Coyer
- State Institute for Health II, Task Force for Infectious Diseases (GI), Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL), Lazarettstrasse 67, 80636, Munich, Germany
- ECDC Fellowship Programme, Field Epidemiology path (EPIET), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ulrich von Both
- Division of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Theresa Scheuerer
- State Institute for Health II, Task Force for Infectious Diseases (GI), Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL), Lazarettstrasse 67, 80636, Munich, Germany
| | - Laura Kolberg
- Division of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Martin Hoch
- State Institute for Health II, Task Force for Infectious Diseases (GI), Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL), Lazarettstrasse 67, 80636, Munich, Germany
| | - Merle M Böhmer
- State Institute for Health II, Task Force for Infectious Diseases (GI), Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL), Lazarettstrasse 67, 80636, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Social Medicine and Health Systems Research, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany
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Abu-Farha RK, Khabour OF, Gharaibeh L, Elrahal YM, Alzoubi KH, Nassar R, Harahsheh MM, Binsaleh AY, Shilbayeh SA. Navigating parental attitudes on childhood vaccination in Jordan: a cross-sectional study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2024:1-13. [PMID: 38620051 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2024.2342018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
This study investigated parental attitudes toward childhood vaccination in Jordan, focusing on acceptance, concerns, and perceptions. A cross-sectional survey conducted from January to February 2024 included 939 parents. Findings indicated that 85.4% (n = 802) of respondents received the COVID-19 vaccine, while only 25% (n = 229) vaccinated their children. Concerns regarding vaccine safety and efficacy were prevalent, with 63.9% (n = 600) expressing worries about side effects and 46.9% (n = 440) trusting immunization programs. Post-pandemic, 34% (n = 319) reported a more negative attitude. Logistic regression showed parents not vaccinating their children against COVID-19 were significantly less likely to exhibit positive attitudes toward childhood vaccination (OR = 0.412, p < 0.001). Older participants were more inclined toward negativity post-pandemic (OR = 1.031, p = 0.007). In conclusion, parental attitudes shifted post-COVID-19, reflecting hesitancy and decreased trust. Addressing concerns and restoring confidence are crucial, especially for children's health. Education through healthcare providers and dispelling social media misinformation are essential. Implementing strategies to enhance post-pandemic vaccine acceptance is imperative for preventing outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rana K Abu-Farha
- Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Omar F Khabour
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Lobna Gharaibeh
- Biopharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Yusra M Elrahal
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Karem H Alzoubi
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacotherapeutics, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Razan Nassar
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Meaad M Harahsheh
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Ammena Y Binsaleh
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sireen A Shilbayeh
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Lupu D, Tiganasu R. Does education influence COVID-19 vaccination? A global view. Heliyon 2024; 10:e24709. [PMID: 38314273 PMCID: PMC10837567 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24709] [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: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
After the recent hard attempts felt on a global scale, notably in the health sector, the steady efforts of scientists have been materialized in maybe one of the most expected findings of the last decades, i.e. the launching of the COVID-19 vaccines. Although it is not our goal to plead for vaccination, as the decision in this regard is a matter of individual choice, we believe it is necessary and enlightening to analyze how one's educational status interferes with COVID-19 vaccination. There are discrepancies between world states vis-à-vis their well-being and their feedback to crises, and from the collection of features that can segregate the states in handling vaccination, in this paper, the spotlight is on education. We are referring to this topic because, generally, researches converge rather on the linkage between economic issues and COVID-19 vaccination, while education levels are less tackled in relation to this. To notice the weight of each type of education (primary, secondary, tertiary) in this process, we employ an assortment of statistical methods, for three clusters: 45 low-income countries (LICs), 72 middle-income countries (MICs) and 53 high-income countries (HICs). The estimates suggest that education counts in the COVID-19 vaccination, the tertiary one having the greatest meaning in accepting it. It is also illustrated that the imprint of education on vaccination fluctuates across the country groups scrutinized, with HICs recording the upper rates. The heterogeneity of COVID-19 vaccination-related behaviors should determine health authorities to treat this subject differently. To expand the COVID-19 vaccines uptake, they should be in an ongoing dialogue with all population categories and, remarkably, with those belonging to vulnerable communities, originated mostly in LICs. Education is imperative for vaccination, and it would ought to be on the schedule of any state, for being assimilated into health strategies and policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Lupu
- "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University of Iasi, Romania, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Romania
| | - Ramona Tiganasu
- "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University of Iasi, Faculty of Law, Centre for European Studies, Romania
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Postiglione M, Miraglia del Giudice G, Della Polla G, Angelillo IF. Analysis of the COVID-19 vaccine willingness and hesitancy among parents of healthy children aged 6 months-4 years: a cross-sectional survey in Italy. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1241514. [PMID: 37942245 PMCID: PMC10628319 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1241514] [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: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction In Italy, since December 2022, the COVID-19 vaccination has been extended to children aged 6 months-4 years with conditions of fragility and to those healthy at the request of the parent. The purposes of the cross-sectional survey were to determine the willingness and hesitancy of the parents/guardians to have their healthy children vaccinated against COVID-19. Methods The survey was performed among 389 parents/guardians with a child aged 6 months-4 years randomly selected from seven kindergartens and eight nursery schools in the geographic area of Naples, Italy. Results Only 10.5% were very concerned about the risk of infection, and the mean values regarding the perceived utility and safety of the COVID-19 vaccine were 3.3 and 3.2, respectively. Only 13.7% of participants were willing to consent to vaccinate the selected child against COVID-19, while 20.1% were uncertain and 66.2% did not intend. Parents/guardians of older children, those who received information about the COVID-19 vaccine from physicians or pediatricians, those who believed that the COVID-19 vaccine was useful, and those with lower hesitancy regarding the COVID-19 vaccine were more willing to vaccinate their child. The mean Parent Attitudes About Childhood Vaccines (PACV-5) score was 5.6, with 33.1% of respondents who were identified as highly hesitant toward COVID-19 vaccination (score ≥ 7). Parents/guardians with a lower perceived safety of the COVID-19 vaccine were more likely to be highly hesitant. Discussion The findings reveal the need to improve community-based education campaigns and effective promotion of the COVID-19 vaccination to increase willingness and address parental safety concerns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Postiglione
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Giorgia Della Polla
- Department of Public Health and Laboratory Services, Teaching Hospital of the University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
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