Attitude of parents towards seasonal influenza vaccination for children in Saudi Arabia

Hesitance and Misconceptions about the Annual Influenza Vaccine among the Saudi Population Post-COVID-19

(1) Background: Vaccination is a cornerstone of public health strategy for mitigating the morbidity and mortality associated with seasonal influenza. However, vaccine hesitancy and misconceptions pose significant barriers to this effort, particularly in the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the transfer of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy to the influenza vaccine and to identify misconceptions about the influenza vaccine among the Saudi population in the post-COVID-19 era. (2) Methods: A web-based, cross-sectional study was conducted between February and June 2023 using a questionnaire adapted from the Adult Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (aVHS). The questionnaire was disseminated to 589 Saudi residents, aged 18 and above, with access to digital devices. Data were analyzed via logistic regression analysis to determine the associations between vaccine hesitancy, knowledge of influenza, and baseline characteristics. (3) Results: This study found that 37.7% of respondents exhibited vaccine hesitancy, while 56.7% demonstrated good knowledge about influenza. There was a significant relationship between nationality and vaccine hesitancy (p-value > 0.05), with non-Saudi respondents exhibiting higher hesitancy. Logistic regression analysis revealed significant associations between vaccine hesitancy, age, and nationality. Meanwhile, participants with higher educational qualifications showed greater knowledge about influenza. (4) Conclusions: The findings highlight an important crossover of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy to influenza vaccines. This study underscores the need for targeted public health interventions to address misconceptions about the influenza vaccine, particularly among certain demographic groups, in order to improve influenza vaccine uptake in the post-COVID era.

Parental intention to vaccinate children against seasonal influenza in the Eastern Mediterranean region: A cross-sectional study using the health belief model

Seasonal influenza vaccine is the most effective strategy for reducing influenza incidence and severity. Parental decision-making regarding childhood vaccination is influenced by one's vaccine-related beliefs. A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the role of the Health Belief Model (HBM) in predicting parental intention to vaccinate their children against influenza in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). An anonymous online survey was distributed to parents of children aged 6 months to 18 years in 14 EMR countries. Out of the 5964 participants, 28.2% intended to vaccinate their children against influenza. Urban residents (OR = 0.55, 95%CI: 0.35-0.85), decision-making regarding child's health by the father alone (OR = 0.43, 95%CI: 0.34-0.55) or the mother alone (OR = 0.78, 95%CI: 0.65-0.93), having a child with a chronic illness (OR = 0.45, 95%CI: 0.38-0.53), reporting high perceived severity, susceptibility, and benefits (OR = 0.35, 95%CI: 0.30-0.40), and cues to action (OR = 0.45, 95%CI: 0.39-0.51) were inversely associated with parental unwillingness to vaccinate their children against influenza. While parents with a higher number of children in the household (OR = 1.08, 95%CI:1.03-1.12) and higher perceived barriers (OR = 2.92, 95%CI: 2.56-3.34) showed an increased likelihood of unwillingness to vaccinate their children. Interventions targeting parental beliefs and perceptions are necessary to improve influenza vaccination acceptance and coverage among children.

Determinants of parental seasonal influenza vaccine hesitancy in the Eastern Mediterranean region: A cross-sectional study

Background

Seasonal influenza vaccine can reduce the risk of influenza-associated hospitalizations and deaths among children. Given that parents are the primary decision makers, this study examined the parental attitude toward childhood influenza vaccine and identified determinants of vaccine hesitancy (VH) in the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR).

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted using an anonymous online survey in 14 EMR countries. Parents of children aged 6 months to 18 years were included. The Parent Attitude about Childhood Vaccines (PACV) was used to assess VH. Chi square test and independent t-test were used to test for association of qualitative and quantitative variables, respectively. A structural equations model (SEM) was used to identify direct and indirect determinants of parental VH.

Results

Almost half of the parents were hesitant about vaccinating their children against influenza (50.8%). Parental VH was significantly higher among older mothers (37.06 ± 8.8 years, p = 0.006), rural residents (53.6%, p < 0.001), high-income countries residents (50.6%, p < 0.001), and mothers with higher educational levels (52.1%, p < 0.001). Parents of school-aged children (5–9 years) (55.6%, p < 0.001), children free from any comorbidities (52.5%, p < 0.001), children who did not receive routine vaccination at all (51.5%, p = 0.03), children who were not vaccinated against COVID-19 (54.3%, p < 0.001), in addition to parents who were not vaccinated against influenza (57.1%, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with increased likelihood of VH. Parents who were depending on healthcare provider as a source of information regarding vaccines were less likely to report VH (47.9%, p < 0.001), meanwhile those who used social media as their source of health information showed a significantly higher VH (57.2%, p < 0.001). The SEM suggested that mother’s age, residence, country income level, child gender, total number of children and source of information regarding vaccines had a direct effect on VH. Meanwhile, parents vaccinated against influenza, children completely or partially vaccinated with routine vaccines and children vaccinated against Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had an indirect effect on VH.

Conclusion

A high proportion of included parents were hesitant to vaccinate their children against seasonal influenza. This attitude is due to many modifiable and non-modifiable factors that can be targeted to improve vaccination coverage.

Parental Hesitancy towards the Established Childhood Vaccination Programmes in the COVID-19 Era: Assessing the Drivers of a Challenging Public Health Concern

(1) Background: Vaccine hesitancy remains a major public health concern. The reasons behind this attitude are complex and warrant careful consideration, especially in the context of the COVID-19 era. The purpose of this study was to estimate vaccine hesitancy towards the established childhood immunization programmes in a non-random sample of Greek parents and explore possible links with important drivers of this phenomenon. (2) Methods: An online self-administered questionnaire was used from October 2020 to April 2021 to collect socio-demographic, lifestyle, and health status data and evaluate knowledge, views, and attitudes of the Greek population on COVID-19 pandemic-related issues. Parents were further asked to complete the Parent Attitudes about Childhood Vaccines (PACV) questionnaire. (3) Results: A total of 1095 parents participated in the study with a mean age of 50 years (SD 9.5 years). The hesitancy against the established childhood vaccinations was estimated at 8.9% (95% CI, 7.3–10.8%). Married status and higher education and income were negatively correlated with hesitancy, whereas positive correlations were found for stress and depressive symptoms and current smoking. Variables related to proper awareness, sound knowledge, and trust toward authorities regarding the COVID-19 pandemic were strongly associated with being less hesitant against the established childhood vaccination programmes. (4) Conclusion: The estimated parental hesitancy against the established childhood vaccination programmes is worrisome. Variables related to good awareness and knowledge of the COVID-19 pandemic were strongly associated with being less hesitant against childhood vaccinations. Since controversy surrounding COVID-19 vaccinations may decrease parents’ confidence in routine childhood vaccinations, appreciating the complex reasons behind vaccine hesitancy may inform public health policies to overcome barriers and increase vaccine acceptance.

Association between risk perception and influenza vaccine hesitancy for children among reproductive women in China during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national online survey

Background

In China, the national prevalence of parental influenza vaccine hesitancy (IVH) during the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and the association between risk perception and parental IVH are still unclear. We aimed to explore the association between risk perception and IVH for children among reproductive women in China, a poorly studied area.

Methods

From December 14, 2020, to January 31, 2021, we conducted a national anonymous online survey on IVH for children among reproductive women in China. We assessed risk perception including perceived susceptibility, severity, barriers, and benefits using the Health Belief Model and then classified each variable into three groups based on tertiles. Logistic regression models were used to calculate the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of risk perception related to vaccine hesitancy after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, health status, and knowledge of influenza, among other factors. Additionally, subgroup analysis was performed.

Results

Among 3,011 reproductive women, 9.13% reported IVH. In multivariable models, vaccine hesitancy was associated with low perceived susceptibility (aOR = 2.55, 95% CI: 1.79–3.65), higher perceived barriers (moderate: aOR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.04–2.08; high: aOR = 2.20, 95% CI: 1.47–3.30), and low perceived benefit (moderate: aOR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.03–1.92; low: aOR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.43–3.07). Subgroup analysis showed that vaccine hesitancy was more likely to occur among women with high perceived barriers aged < 30 years compared with those older than 30 years (P for difference = 0.041) and among women with moderate perceived benefit who had never conceived compared with those had a history of pregnancy (P for difference = 0.048).

Conclusions

Nearly one in 10 reproductive women was hesitant about influenza vaccination for their children during the COVID-19 pandemic. To mitigate vaccine hesitancy, our findings highlight a need for tailored public health measures to increase perceived disease susceptibility and vaccine benefit and decrease perceived barriers. Furthermore, the effect of high perceived barriers and moderate perceived benefit on vaccine hesitancy was higher among younger women and women who had never conceived.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-12782-0.

Assessment of caregiver willingness to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Vaccination against COVID-19 is the key to controlling the pandemic. Parents are the decision makers in the case of children vaccination as they are responsible for them. This study aims to investigate the acceptability of COVID-19 vaccination for children among parents in Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study used an online self-administered questionnaire. A 35-items questionnaire was distributed via social media platforms between June 6 and July 9-2021. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the participants' characteristics. Categorical variables were reported as frequencies and percentages. Predictors of vaccination acceptance were identified using binary logistic regression.

RESULTS

A total of 581 parents were involved in this study. A majority of parents 63.9% reported that they will vaccinate their children if the vaccine becomes available. Around 40% of them confirmed that they want their child to be among the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Nearly a quarter, 23.9%, reported that they will vaccinate their child against influenza this year. The most commonly reported reason for hesitancy was poor awareness about the vaccine's effectiveness on children. Adequate information about the COVID-19 vaccine was the most agreed cause to accept the vaccine. Having five or more children was a significant predictor for poor vaccination acceptance (OR: 0.42 (95%CI: 0.21-0.86), p < .05).

CONCLUSION

An appropriate proportion of parents are willing to vaccinate their children if the vaccine becomes available for children in Saudi Arabia. Public health awareness must be raised to gain public trust in the vaccination and the healthcare system.

Determinants of parental hesitancy to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 in China

Vaccine hesitancy seriously hinders herd immunity. We explored the determinants of parental hesitancy to vaccinate children against Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in China.A population-based self-administered online questionnaire evaluating parental hesitancy in vaccinating their children against COVID-19 was conducted in Taizhou, China. Of the 2463 parents who received the invitation, 1788 (72.6%) responded to the survey.Of the repondents, 52.5% were hesitant. Mothers exhibited a greater proportion of vaccine hesitancy than fathers did (57.5% vs. 41.7%, P < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that parents with children under 18 years of age (OR = 0.94, 95%CI: 0.90-0.99), lower knowledge scores about COVID-19 vaccination (Q1: OR = 1.92, 95%CI: 1.37-2.69; Q2: OR = 1.51, 95%CI: 1.10-2.08), lower awareness of the permission of vaccinating children (OR = 1.74, 95%CI: 1.36-2.23) and hesitancy to inoculate themselves (OR = 8.18, 95%CI: 6.48-10.33) were associated with parental hesitancy to inoculate their children. Results also revealed the disparity between fathers and mothers regarding associated factors.This study found that a substantial proportion of parents reported being hesitant to vaccinate children against COVID-19, implying the necessity of comprehensive assessment and health education programs for vaccination systems in China.