Willingness to Vaccinate Children against Influenza after the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Ran D. Goldman, BC​ Children​'​​s Hospital; Sophie McGregor, BC​ Children​'​​s Hospital; Shashidhar Marneni, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; Tomohiro Katsuta, St. Marianna University School of Medicine; Mark Griffiths, Emory University; Jeanine E. Hall, Keck School of Medicine of USC; Michelle Seiler, Kinderspital Zürich; Eileen J. Klein, University of Washington School of Medicine; Cristina Parra Cotanda, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu; Renana Gelernter, Tel Aviv University; Julia Hoeffe, UniversitätsSpital Bern; Adrienne L. Davis, Hospital for Sick Children University of Toronto; Gianluca Gualco, Pediatric Institute of Italian part of Switzerland; Ahmed Mater, University of Saskatchewan; Sergio Manzano, Hôpitaux universitaires de Genève; Graham C. Thompson, Alberta Children's Hospital; Sara Ahmed, Mary Bridge Children's Hospital; Samina Ali, University of Alberta; Julie C. Brown, University of Washington School of Medicine
• Language: English
• Date: 2020-01-01
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2020 Elsevier Inc.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2020.08.005
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of Pediatrics
• Keywords: parental attitudes; vaccine hesitancy
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Immunology

Abstract

Objectives: To determine factors associated with parents who plan to vaccinate their children against influenza next year, especially those who did not vaccinate against influenza last year using a global survey. Study design: A survey of caregivers accompanying their children aged 1-19 years old in 17 pediatric emergency departments in 6 countries at the peak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Anonymous online survey included caregiver and child demographic information, vaccination history and future intentions, and concern about the child and caregiver having COVID-19 at the time of emergency department visit. Results: Of 2422 surveys, 1314 (54.2%) caregivers stated they plan to vaccinate their child against influenza next year, an increase of 15.8% from the previous year. Of 1459 caregivers who did not vaccinate their children last year, 418 (28.6%) plan to do so next year. Factors predicting willingness to change and vaccinate included child's up-to-date vaccination status (aOR 2.03, 95% CI 1.29-3.32, P =.003); caregivers' influenza vaccine history (aOR 3.26, 95% CI 2.41-4.40, P <.010), and level of concern their child had COVID-19 (aOR 1.09, 95% CI 1.01-1.17, P =.022). Conclusions: Changes in risk perception due to COVID-19, and previous vaccination, may serve to influence decision-making among caregivers regarding influenza vaccination in the coming season. To promote influenza vaccination among children, public health programs can leverage this information.