Parents’ versus Grandparents’ Attitudes about Childhood Vaccination

Examining age, period and cohort effects in attitude change to childhood vaccinations in a representative New Zealand survey: a multiyear cohort-sequential growth modelling study

OBJECTIVES

Vaccinations are an important preventative measure in reducing the spread of infectious diseases worldwide. However, concerns of undervaccination during childhood have become increasingly common. The current study aims to investigate changes in attitudes towards childhood vaccinations prior to the COVID-19 pandemic using a national sample from New Zealand.

DESIGN

Age-based, period-based, and cohort-based changes were assessed using cohort-sequential latent growth modelling in 11 overlapping birth cohorts, which spanned the ages of 23-79 years.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Data were taken from the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study where 58 654 adults completed at least one wave across a 7-year period (2013 and 2015-2019).

RESULTS

The period-based and cohort-based models fit the data equally well (χ2(282)=8547.93, p<0.001, comparative fit index, CFI=0.894, root mean square error of approximation, (RMSEA)=0.074, standardised root mean square residual, SRMR=0.105; χ2(273)=8514.87, p<0.001, CFI=0.894, RMSEA=0.075, SRMR=0.105, respectively) suggesting societal factors contribute to childhood vaccination attitudes. Additionally, the findings suggest attitudes towards childhood vaccinations were becoming increasingly more positive in all birth cohorts (ps<0.001), with younger and older birth cohorts exhibiting even positive attitudes compared with middle-aged cohorts.

CONCLUSION

Overall, both the cohort-based and period-based models reveal changes in vaccination attitudes suggesting that even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, societal influences had an impact on attitudes towards childhood vaccination.

Factors Related to the Compliance of Arab Parents in Israel to the Vaccination of Children and Adolescents against COVID-19

The Arab minority consists of 20% of the Israeli population. Most of the Arab minority live in rural villages, mostly in closed communities, with specific psycho-social and sociodemographic characteristics. Previous studies showed different attitudes to COVID-19 vaccination among Arab adults.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the influence of factors on the willingness of parents to vaccinate their young and adolescent children and if there is a difference between parents' attitudes to both groups.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

The survey examined correlations between variables and attitudes toward the vaccine and the pandemic and was disseminated anonymously to parents of children between the ages of 5 and 18 in the Arab population of Israel through social media networks, using the snowball method. Statistical analyses included the Pearson correlation, MANCOVA, and logistic regression tests.

RESULTS

In total, 361 Arab Israeli parents participated. As mentioned above, 130 parents had both children and adolescents. Overall, 48 parents (36.9%) chose not to vaccinate both their children and adolescents, 52 parents (40.0%) chose to vaccinate only their adolescents, only 1 parent (0.8%) chose to vaccinate only the child, and 29 parents (22.3%) vaccinated both their children and adolescents. Significant correlations were found among a higher age of parents and socioeconomic status, attitudes toward COVID vaccination, subjective norms, perceived severity of the disease, perceived benefits of vaccination, and trust in formal sources.

DISCUSSION

There is a difference between parents' decision to be vaccinated and their willingness to vaccinate their children. There is a difference between their decision to vaccinate their adolescents and their young children. Different factors positively or negatively influenced parents' decisions. Addressing these factors by authorities may increase compliance of Arab minorities with instructions in the future.

Childhood Vaccine Attitude and Refusal among Turkish Parents

We aimed to understand and resolve anti-vaccine attitudes by examining the factors associated with vaccine attitudes and exploring potential strategies to improve childhood vaccination rates. Between 2014 and 2021, a total of 628 families refused vaccination in Adiyaman. A total of 300 families accepted visits and were visited. During the visits, the families were administered a questionnaire to determine the reasons for vaccine rejection and their opinions on the matter. While providing general information about the vaccine, parents were encouraged to reconsider their decision, and at the end, parents completed the questionnaire. The questionnaire included sociodemographic questions, reasons for vaccine refusal, and a vaccine attitude scale. Among the participants in the study, 9.3% were convinced about the vaccine. The mean vaccine attitude scale score was calculated as 23.6 ± 2.5 (min = 15-max = 29). Significantly higher rates of persuasion were observed among fathers (17.3%) compared to mothers (7.7%) (p = 0.038). Participants who had received some vaccinations had a higher rate of persuasion (11.6%) compared to those who had not received any vaccinations (2.6%) (p = 0.02). Childhood vaccine refusal is a complex issue that has been the subject of numerous studies. Studies on this subject will increase awareness of vaccines.

Parents' attitudes toward childhood COVID-19 immunization in Croatia: a multicenter cross-sectional study

AIM

To assess parents' attitudes toward childhood COVID-19 immunization in Croatia.

METHODS

In this multicenter cross-sectional study, we collected data from four tertiary care facilities in Zagreb, Split, and Osijek between December 2021 and February 2022. During the visit to the Pediatric Emergency Departments, parents were asked to fill out a highly-structured questionnaire about their attitudes toward COVID-19 immunization in children.

RESULTS

The sample consisted of 872 respondents. A total of 46.3% of respondents were hesitant about vaccinating their child against COVID-19, 35.2% definitely did not intend to vaccinate their child, and 18.5% definitely intended to vaccinate their child. Parents who were themselves vaccinated against COVID-19 were more likely than unvaccinated parents (29.2% and 3.2%, P<0.001) to vaccinate their children. Parents agreeing with the epidemiological guidelines were more inclined to vaccinate their children, as were parents of older children and parents of children vaccinated according to the national program schedule. Child comorbidities and respondents' history of COVID-19 were not associated with childhood vaccination intention. Ordinal logistic regression revealed that the most important predictors for a positive parents' attitude toward vaccinating their child were parents' vaccination status and regular vaccination of their child according to the national immunization program schedule.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrate Croatian parents' mostly hesitant and negative attitudes toward childhood COVID-19 immunization. Future vaccination campaigns should target unvaccinated parents, parents with younger children, and parents of children with chronic diseases.

Parents' attitudes toward childhood COVID-19 immunization in Croatia: a multicenter cross-sectional study

AIM

To assess parents' attitudes toward childhood COVID-19 immunization in Croatia.

METHODS

In this multicenter cross-sectional study, we collected data from four tertiary care facilities in Zagreb, Split, and Osijek between December 2021 and February 2022. During the visit to the Pediatric Emergency Departments, parents were asked to fill out a highly-structured questionnaire about their attitudes toward COVID-19 immunization in children.

RESULTS

The sample consisted of 872 respondents. A total of 46.3% of respondents were hesitant about vaccinating their child against COVID-19, 35.2% definitely did not intend to vaccinate their child, and 18.5% definitely intended to vaccinate their child. Parents who were themselves vaccinated against COVID-19 were more likely than unvaccinated parents (29.2% and 3.2%, P<0.001) to vaccinate their children. Parents agreeing with the epidemiological guidelines were more inclined to vaccinate their children, as were parents of older children and parents of children vaccinated according to the national program schedule. Child comorbidities and respondents' history of COVID-19 were not associated with childhood vaccination intention. Ordinal logistic regression revealed that the most important predictors for a positive parents' attitude toward vaccinating their child were parents' vaccination status and regular vaccination of their child according to the national immunization program schedule.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrate Croatian parents' mostly hesitant and negative attitudes toward childhood COVID-19 immunization. Future vaccination campaigns should target unvaccinated parents, parents with younger children, and parents of children with chronic diseases.