Predictors of real-world parents’ acceptance to vaccinate their children against the COVID-19

Abstract

Background: As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to threaten public health, the vaccination of children against the disease appears to be a key factor to control the pandemic. Objective: To investigate the prevalence of parents who have vaccinated their children against the COVID-19 and the factors influencing this decision. Methods: We conducted a web-based cross-sectional study in Greece during the first week of September 2021. The study questionnaire was distributed through social media and a convenience sample was obtained. Only parents with children aged 12-17 years old could participate in the study. We collected socio-demographic data of parents and we measured their attitudes towards vaccination and COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Study population included 656 parents. Mean age of parents was 45.5 years, while most of them were mothers with a high level of education. Regarding vaccination, 27.1% of parents had their children vaccinated against the COVID-19, while almost all children had a complete vaccination history (98.9%). The most important reasons for decline of COVID-19 vaccination were doubts about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines (45.3%) and fear of side effects (36.6%). Regarding the information about the COVID-19 vaccines, parents showed more trust in family doctors than in scientists and the government. Multivariate regression analysis identified that increased parents age, increased trust in COVID-19 vaccines, and positive attitude of parents towards vaccination had a positive effect on children vaccination. Conclusions: Understanding the factors influencing parents' decision to vaccinate their children against the COVID-19 is crucial to increase the COVID-19 vaccination coverage rate. Implementation of public health policies is necessary to spread knowledge about COVID-19 vaccines and to regain vaccine confidence.

A Moderated Mediation Model of the Influence of Cynical Distrust, Medical Mistrust, and Anger on Vaccination Hesitancy in Nursing Staff

“…This finding is consistent with the literature, which suggests that increased levels of anger are associated with an increased number of negative life events [6]. We note here that in addition to the negative events experienced during the pandemic, Greek nurses were under particular pressure from the state, with laws making COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for healthcare workers [52]. In Greece, health workers have protested against mandatory vaccination plans.…”

“…In Greece, health workers have protested against mandatory vaccination plans. Mandatory vaccination may have paid off, as over 90% of nurses were vaccinated [52]; however, it is possible that this may explain both the anger and the low intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine booster, as expressed in the sample. Usually, pressure to vaccinate can lower vaccination intention.…”

COVID-19 Vaccination Behavior Among Frontline Healthcare Workers in Pakistan: The Theory of Planned Behavior, Perceived Susceptibility, and Anticipated Regret

“…This could be attributed to the reason that individuals anticipate less regret for easily admissible decisions than for less admissible ones. In contrast, the recent studies of Caso et al (2021) and Galanis et al (2021) reported a higher level of anticipated regret for vaccination among a specific groups who abide to the so-called “no-vax” groups. Several studies (e.g., Christy et al, 2016 ; Ng et al, 2020 ; Penţa et al, 2020 ) investigated the potential role of anticipated regret to uptake the HPV and influenza vaccinations respectively.…”

(Why) Is Misinformation a Problem?

“…Behavioral effects of misinformation. The most commonly referenced behavioral effects pertain to health behaviors in response to false claims (e.g., antivaccine movements, speculated vaccine-autism link, genetically modified mosquitos and the Zika virus, COVID-19; Bode & Vraga, 2017;Bronstein et al, 2021;Galanis et al, 2021;Gangarosa et al, 1998;Greene & Murphy, 2021;Joslyn et al, 2021;Kadenko et al, 2021;Loomba et al, 2021;Mug ˘alog ˘lu et al, 2022;van der Linden et al, 2020;Van Prooijen et al, 2021;Xiao & Wong, 2020). The same association has also been made between misinformation associated with anthropogenic climate change and resistance to adopting proenvironmental behaviors (Gimpel et al, 2020;Soutter et al, 2020).…”