Parental COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and vaccine uptake among children and adolescents in the US: Findings from a prospective national cohort
Year: 2022
Type: preprint
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Objectives Our aim was to measure COVID-19 vaccine uptake among children aged 5-17 years old via parents participating in the CHASING COVID Cohort and identify sociodemographic factors associated with it. Methods In this longitudinal study, parents of school-aged children were asked about their own vaccination status and that of their children at three time points between June 2021-January 2022, along with reasons for vaccinating immediately or delaying vaccinations for their children. Multivariable log binomial models were used to identify correlates of vaccine uptake among children. Results Of the 1,583 children aged 5-17 years, 64.9% were vaccinated. Over 40% of parents of 5-11 year old children who intended to delay vaccinating their child in June 2021 had still not vaccinated them by January 2022, including 30% of the parents who were vaccinated. After adjusting for measured confounders, parents’ vaccination status was associated with higher likelihood of children’s vaccine uptake (age-specific adjusted odds ratios [aORs]: aOR 16-17 3.7, 95% CI 2.3, 5.9, aOR 12-15 3.7, 95% CI 2.6, 5.3; aOR 5-11 10.6, 95% CI 5.4, 20.9). Parents’ education (aOR 16-17 1.4, 95% CI 1.1, 1.8, aOR 12-15 1.5, 95% CI 1.2, 1.9; aOR 5-11 2.1, 95% CI 1.5, 2.9) and worry about others getting infected (aOR 5-11 1.4, 95% CI 1.1, 1.6) were also associated with higher vaccine uptake among children. A higher proportion of parents of 5-11 year olds (vs. 12-17 year olds) had concerns about vaccine safety and effectiveness. Conclusion To increase vaccination coverage among young children, vaccination campaigns should focus on both vaccinated and unvaccinated parents and messaging should be specific to the child’s age.
Source: medRxiv
Authors: Madhura S. Rane, McKaylee Robertson, Drew Westmoreland, Rebecca Zimba, Sarah G. Kulkarni, Yanhan Shen, Amanda Berry, Mindy Chang, William You, Christian Grov, Denis Nash, the CHASING COVID Cohort Team
Language: English
Subfield: Health
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4306639620