Understanding COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy during parenthood in British Columbia

Abstract

Introduction

COVID-19 vaccine uptake was significantly lower in children under 12 when compared with adults. Vaccine hesitancy was a potential key contributor to the challenges faced in COVID-19 vaccine uptake

Methods

An online cross-sectional survey was conducted across British Columbia, Canada, from October to December 2021 to understand the COVID-19 vaccine perceptions of parents of children under 12 years of age. Participants completed a modified version of the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (VHS). Logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with parental vaccine hesitancy and to explore the relationship between parental vaccine intentions and vaccine hesitancy

Results

A total of 993 parents participated in the study. One-half of parents (52.1 %) were vaccine hesitant for pediatric COVID-19 vaccines. For every additional child under 12 in a household, parents were more hesitant (adjusted odds ration [aOR] 1.69, 95 % Confidence Interval [CI] 1.28–2.24). Vaccinated parents (aOR 0.01, 95 % CI 0.004–0.02 vs. unvaccinated parents) and parents of children immunized for influenza (aOR 0.18, 95 % CI 0.12–0.29 vs. parents of children not immunized for influenzas) were less likely to be hesitant. Participants who received a COVID-19 vaccine recommendation from their healthcare provider were also less likely to be hesitant (aOR 0.37, 95 % CI 0.18–0.79). Vaccine hesitant parents were less likely to intend to vaccinate their child when compared with a parent who was not vaccine hesitant (aOR 0.001, 95 % CI 0.0004–0.005)

Conclusion

The findings from this study identify factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine decision-making, supporting the application of the VHS in clinical practice to allow for more strategic implementation of vaccine-promotion resources.