COVID-19 vaccination in Chinese children: a cross-sectional study on the cognition, psychological anxiety state and the willingness toward vaccination

Abstract

It is important to understand the cognition, willingness, and psychological anxiety state of Chinese guardians toward COVID-19 vaccination for their children to predict the future vaccination rate and to help the design of policies that aim to expand the population with immunity against COVID-19. This study collected data with a professional vaccination registration platform for children named "Xiao Dou Miao" in February 2021. The psychological anxiety state of the guardians was self-evaluated using the psychological anxiety scale. Factors that might influence the willingness of guardians to vaccinate their children were identified using logistic regression analysis. This study included 12,872 questionnaires with 70.9% of guardians showing willingness to vaccinate their children. Guardians who were male, aged 40-49 and from rural area were more willing to vaccinate their children. Fathers, guardians with higher education and income, whose children have a history of adverse vaccine reactions and allergies were less willing to vaccinate their children (p < .001). More than 80% of the guardians expressed a high level of trust for vaccine information released by official and health-related agencies. Guardians who were not vaccinated were more anxious than those who were vaccinated (χ2 = 27.99, p < .001). To protect children from COVID-19, vaccine coverage in children should be expanded rapidly and public awareness on vaccine safety and effectiveness should be improved.

Parents’ and Guardians’ Willingness to Vaccinate Their Children against COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…There was contradictory evidence on whether educational level (OR: 1.3795, 95% CI: 0.8007, 2.3765) or gender of parents and guardians (OR: 1.1130, 95% CI: 0.5903, 2.0986) was an effective predictor. In nine studies [16,[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25], participants with a high school or lower degree were less likely to accept COVID-19 vaccination for their children compared to those with college or higher education, while the opposite results were found in the other six studies [26][27][28][29][30][31]. Compared to women, men were more likely to accept the vaccination in ten studies [22,24,25,[27][28][29][32][33][34][35].…”

“…In nine studies [16,[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25], participants with a high school or lower degree were less likely to accept COVID-19 vaccination for their children compared to those with college or higher education, while the opposite results were found in the other six studies [26][27][28][29][30][31]. Compared to women, men were more likely to accept the vaccination in ten studies [22,24,25,[27][28][29][32][33][34][35]. However, women's acceptance rate was higher in the studies of Babicki and Wan [36,37].…”

The COVID-19 pandemic in children and young people during 2020-2021: A complex discussion on vaccination

“…In China, parents' willingness to vaccinate their children was high from the start, at 70%-87% [ 105 , 120 , 122 , 133 ]. However, among 941 children with special diseases, only 50% of parents were willing to provide vaccination for their children [ 134 ].…”

“…The perception that a family member would support them in having their children take up COVID-19 vaccination was an important factor in their decision [ 105 ]. Caregivers who were male, aged 40-49 and from the rural area were more willing to vaccinate their children, while a history of adverse vaccine reactions and allergies in children led to hesitancy [ 120 ]. More than 80% of the caregivers expressed a high level of trust in vaccine information released by official and health-related agencies [ 120 ].…”

“…Caregivers who were male, aged 40-49 and from the rural area were more willing to vaccinate their children, while a history of adverse vaccine reactions and allergies in children led to hesitancy [ 120 ]. More than 80% of the caregivers expressed a high level of trust in vaccine information released by official and health-related agencies [ 120 ]. Several studies in China conducted at a later date in the pandemic found slightly different results [ 114 , 124 ], where only 45%-53% would likely or very likely to have their children aged <18 years vaccinated.…”