Parents’ perceptions and intention to vaccinate their children against COVID-19: Results from a cross-sectional national survey in India

Abstract

BackgroundDespite the success of adult vaccination against COVID-19, providing vaccines to children remains a challenge for policymakers globally. As parents are primary decision-makers for their children, we aimed to assess parents’ perceptions and intentions regarding COVID-19 vaccination in India.MethodsA cross-sectional web-based study was designed, parents or caregivers (N=770) were recruited through snowball sampling using Google form. Cross-tabulation was performed by parents’ intention to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 virus with sociodemographic characteristics and their risk perception towards COVID-19, trust in the healthcare system, and their history of vaccine hesitancy behavior. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to compute the predictors of child vaccination intention among Indian parents.Results770 parents across the country have completed the survey. Of the 770 participants, 258 (33.5%) have shown intent to vaccinate their children. The stated likelihood of child vaccination was greater among parents who had a bachelor’s degree or higher education (aOR: 1.98, 95% CI: 1.15-3.51); as well as among parents who intended to vaccinate themselves (aOR: 2.35, 95% CI: 1.30-4.67). Parental concerns centered around vaccine safety and side effects.ConclusionIndian parents reported high knowledge of the COVID-19 virus and were aware of the development of a novel vaccine. However, about one-third of parents intended to vaccinate their children, and about half of them were not sure whether to vaccinate their children or not against the COVID-19 virus. The study highlighted the need for health promotion strategies that promote vaccine uptake among parents.

Willingness, refusal and influential factors of parents to vaccinate their children against the COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“… Yes, definitely [Y], yes, probably [N], undecided [N], no, probably not [N], no, definitely not [N] Yes: 31.5 No: 68.5 ( Davis et al, 2020 ) If a vaccine against COVID-19 becomes available in the next 12 months, how likely are you to get it for your child(ren)? Very likely [Y], somewhat likely [Y], not too likely [N], not at all likely [N] Yes: 63.0 No: 37.0 ( Padhi et al, 2021 ) Do you intend to vaccinate your child(ren) for COVID-19 once a vaccine is available for children? Yes [Y], unsure [U], no [N] Yes: 74.0 Unsure: 14.0 No: 12.0 ( McKinnon et al, 2021 ) If a COVID-19 vaccine is available, will you vaccinate your child?…”

Perceptions and Intention of Healthcare Workers’ to Vaccinate Their Children Aged <18 Years against COVID-19 from A Tertiary Care Institute of Eastern Uttar Pradesh (U.P.), India

“…Majority (91.7%) of the parents in our study were willing to get their children vaccinated with COVID vaccine with 83% of them intended to get their children vaccinated as soon possible. In contrast to this, a study by Padhy et al [37] found only 33.5% of the Indian parents to be willing to get their child a COVID-19 vaccine.…”

“…Another study by Himanshi et al [40] vaccines. In the study by Padhy et al [37], the stated likelihood of child vaccination was greater among parents who had a bachelor's degree or higher education as well as among parents who intended to vaccinate themselves. However, in our study, parent's level of education as well as parent's COVID-19 vaccination status was not found to associated with their willingness for their child's COVID vaccination.…”