Support for Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccines for 5- to 11-Year-Old Children

Abstract

Objectives: The vaccination against COVID-19 has averted millions of fatalities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, a considerable number of parents and caregivers oppose mandating COVID-19 vaccines for children. This study investigated the variables that influenced a sample of Omani mothers' support for mandatory COVID-19 vaccines for children. Methods: A Cross-Sectional Study of Omani Mothers was collected from 700 mothers (response rate = 73.4%) of children 5–11 years old from several healthcare facilities in Oman using a structured questionnaire between February 20 and March 13, 2022. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to analyze the data. Results: The median age of mothers was 38 years (SD = 5.14). The results of multivariable logistic regression were generally consistent with those of the univariable analysis except for age (OR = 1.06, 95% CI [.58, 1.93], p =.86) and income (OR = 1.09, 95% CI [.58, 2.03], p =.79). Mothers who were vaccine hesitant (OR = 9.82, 95% CI [5.27, 18.28], p <.001), tested positive for COVID-19 (OR = 3.25, 95% CI [1.80, 5.86], p <.001), and had one or two doses of COVID-19 vaccines (OR = 5.41, 95% CI [2.92, 10.03], p <.001) were more likely to refuse mandating COVID-19 vaccines for children 5–11 years old. Conclusions: The findings should aid public health authorities in designing future childhood vaccine literacy programs with a specific attention to some subgroups in Oman to help reduce opposition to vaccines in future pandemics among mothers.
 Keywords: COVID-19; Mandatory vaccine; Vaccine hesitancy; Children; Oman.