Parent-Child Vaccination Concordance and Its Relationship to Child Age, Parent Age and Education, and Perceived Social Norms

Factors Associated with Parents' COVID-19 Vaccination Decisions for Their Children in an Economically Marginalized, Diverse Community

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is a significant public health concern, particularly among parents who serve as gatekeepers for their child(ren)'s vaccination status. This study adds to the literature by examining COVID-19 vaccine decisions among parents living in a mid-size, lower-income, racially/ethnically diverse, community. Parents of children, < 18 years and enrolled in the public schools system, were invited to complete a questionnaire offered in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. The questionnaire included questions about their child(ren)'s vaccination status, as well as factors which, based on the literature, might impact parents' vaccination decisions. Parents (n = 277) were mostly Hispanic/Latinx, females, with a high school degree/GED as their highest level of education achieved, a mean age of 40 years, and an average of two children < 18 years. Four-fifths (78.6%) of parents reported being vaccinated against COVID-19, but only 40.8% reported having all of their children vaccinated; 14.8% had some of their children get the COVID-19 vaccine, and 44.4% had none of their children get the COVID-19 vaccine. In bivariate associations, parents' vaccination status, parents age, the CDC website as a COVID-19 information source, awareness of age eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine, parents reporting knowing someone who does not want to vaccinate their child, and parents' perceived social norm score were associated with children's vaccination status. However, when multivariate analyses were conducted, only parents' age and perceived social norms increased parents' odds of choosing to vaccinate their child. These findings have implications for those promoting COVID-19 vaccination among parents in lower-income, diverse communities.

COVID-19 immunization status in children compared to their parents: a retrospective review at an upstate NY medicine/pediatrics practice

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between parent and child COVID-19 immunization series completion using vaccine records.

METHODS

A cross-sectional chart review was performed on parent and child patients at the Albany Medical Center Internal Medicine and Pediatrics practice. Patient and parent demographic data, COVID-19 immunization status, and health care worker status was collected. Patient data was further separated into 2 cohorts to account for vaccine eligibility among child age groups, with 5-11 years and 6 months-4 years cohorts. Chi square or Fisher's exact test was used where appropriate.

RESULTS

Across both cohorts, 371 child patients were identified and cross-matched with corresponding parents. Neither cohort offered evidence linking child immunization series completion with the child's race, ethnicity, or county of residence. However, rates of series completion were higher for children with private insurance versus public options in both the 5-11 years and 6 months-4 years cohorts (both p < 0.001). Children were more likely to be immunized against COVID-19 if their parents were fully immunized against COVID-19 (both p < 0.05). Children aged 6 months-4 years were more likely to be immunized against COVID-19 if their parent was a health care worker (p = 0.038).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates a significance between child insurance status, as well as between parental vaccination status and child vaccination status. Only children under 5 years were more likely to be vaccinated against COVID-19 if their parent was a health care worker.

Parental Hesitancy toward Seasonal Influenza Vaccination for Children under the Age of 18 Years and Its Determinants in the Post-Pandemic Era: A Cross-Sectional Survey among 1175 Parents in China

Children's susceptibility to influenza increased after COVID-19 control measures were lifted. This study investigated parental hesitancy toward seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) for children and its determinants in the post-pandemic era. An online survey of full-time adult factory workers was conducted in Shenzhen, China in December 2023. This analysis was based on 1175 parents who had at least one child under the age of 18 years. Among all parents, 37.1% were hesitant to have their index child receive SIV. Mothers exhibited lower parental hesitancy toward SIV compared to fathers (31.9% versus 41.3%, p < 0.001). After adjusting for significant background characteristics, mothers and fathers who were more satisfied with the SIV health promotion materials, perceived more severe consequences of seasonal influenza for their children, and perceived more benefits, cues to action, and self-efficacy related to their children's SIV were less likely to exhibit hesitancy toward SIV. Higher frequency of exposure to information about the increasing number of patients or severe cases due to seasonal influenza and other upper respiratory infections on social media was associated with lower parental hesitancy toward SIV among fathers but not mothers. There is a strong need to address parental hesitancy toward SIV for children in the post-pandemic era.

Rates and determinants of Rotavirus vaccine uptake among children in Italy: a cross-sectional study within the 2022 OBVIOUS* project

INTRODUCTION

The World Health Organization defines rotavirus as among the most severe causes of viral gastroenteritis affecting children under 5 year old. Italy and other European countries do not release disaggregated data on rotavirus vaccination coverage. This study aimed to assess the uptake and drivers of rotavirus vaccination in Italy.

METHODS

We administered a survey to 10,000 Italian citizens recruited via an online panel and proportionate to key demographic strata. We examined rotavirus vaccine uptake among parents whose youngest child was aged 6 weeks to 4 years, their sociodemographic characteristics, their beliefs about vaccine administration, and who recommended the rotavirus vaccination.

RESULTS

A total of 711 respondents met the inclusion criteria for the rotavirus vaccine questionnaire. The uptake was estimated at 60.3% nationwide (66.4% among mothers and 50.2% among fathers). Being a mother and living in cities/suburbs was significantly associated with a higher likelihood of vaccine uptake, while fathers were more likely to be uncertain of their children's vaccine status. Living in Central Italy and having friends/relatives opposed to vaccination were found to be significantly associated with a lower likelihood of vaccine uptake, while parents' education level and children's demographics were not found to correlate with any outcomes. In 90.3% of cases, the rotavirus vaccination was recalled as being recommended by a paediatrician.

CONCLUSIONS

Consistent collection of behavioural preferences and socioeconomic characteristics of recipients of rotavirus vaccine campaigns, their epidemiological information, cost-benefit, and national policy data are crucial for designing effective vaccination strategies in Italy and other European countries with similar social profiles to reach the target uptake.

Potential motivators affecting parental intention in COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 6 months to 4 years: Implications for targeted vaccine interventions in Japan

Although COVID-19 vaccination was approved for younger children in Japan in October 2022, uptake rates remain critically low. This study aimed to investigate Japanese parents' intentions, hesitators' probability of positive intention change, and factors that motivate COVID-19 vaccination. Parents with a 6-month to 4-year-old child living in Japan participated in this internet-based, cross-sectional survey conducted from December 19, 2022, to January 4, 2023. The modified Poisson regression analysis was used to assess the probabilities of changing intention by each motivator when comparing the degree of hesitancy among hesitators, and the Poisson generalized estimating equations were used to compare the probabilities of changing intentions by potential motivators within hesitant individuals. Among 12,502 participants, 10,008 (80.1%) were hesitators. Parents with lower hesitancy levels were more likely to be motivated to vaccinate their children through potential motivators. Vaccine hesitators were motivated to vaccinate their children, particularly by proven vaccine effectiveness (including "protecting children from getting sick" with a probability ratio [PR] of 3.7 [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.5-3.9] and "less likely to infect adults" with a PR of 2.9 [95% CI 2.8-3.1]), as well as vaccine safety (including "safe vaccination of millions of children" with a PR of 3.1 [95% CI 3.0-3.3]) compared to injunctive norm (including "community leader recommendation"). Therefore, initially addressing parents with low hesitancy levels is an effective strategy that motivates COVID-19 vaccination. Also, providing evidence-based information about COVID-19 vaccine efficacy and safety that is consistent with parents' needs is crucial.