COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccine Uptake Among Nurses and Children Living in Their Households: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background

Children are at lower risk from influenza and COVID-19 than other age groups, but they can still be affected. Some adults, including healthcare workers, developed negative attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic, which might lead to lowered pediatric vaccine uptake. We investigated COVID-19 and seasonal flu vaccine uptake among nurses and children living in their households.

Methods

Using contact information from the state professional licensing body, we recruited 677 nurses from South Dakota with children living in their households to participate in an online survey. Data were collected in May 2024. The survey included questions regarding parental and pediatric vaccine uptake and social and political factors associated with vaccine hesitancy. We used logistic regression to analyze the data.

Results

We found that 64% were vaccinated for influenza and 18% of children were vaccinated for COVID-19. The pediatric uptake of both vaccines was associated with parental COVID-19 vaccination status and partially with influenza vaccination status. Nurses who identified with the Republican Party reported lowered vaccination rates for children living in their households.

Conclusions

Overall, we found low COVID-19 and flu vaccination rates among children in our sample.