Dynamics of Vaccine-Hesitant Parents’ Considerations Regarding Covid-19 Vaccination

Abstract

AbstractIntroductionMost studies present a snapshot of hesitant parents’ decisions and thinking concerning COVID-19 vaccination, but for many it is a dynamic rather than a stable process. We examined the considerations of a group of vaccine hesitant parents (VHPs) with respect to COVID-19 vaccinations for their children before, during and after the main vaccination campaign for the 12 to15-year-old age group in Israel, over a six-month period.MethodsDigital surveys were administered to 1118 Israeli parents. After VHPs were identified, three surveys were conducted to evaluate considerations that discourage or encourage vaccination. A logistic regression was carried out on sixteen models; of these, six were found to be statistically significant.Results456 parents’ data were analyzed. Parents’ intentions to vaccinate prior to the vaccination campaign were a good predictor of their actual behavior, (rp=.497, p<.001). We divided the parents into four groups: consistently pro-vaccine (39.4%), consistently anti-vaccine (15.2%), pro-vaccine parents who did not vaccinate (17.6%), and anti-vaccine parents who did vaccinate (27.9%). We identified eight considerations that were significant in VHPs’ vaccination behavior: trust in scientists, doctors and drug companies, children’s preferences, spread of COVID, social responsibility, children’s characteristics, the vaccine’s speed of development and its side effects.DiscussionGreater vaccine uptake for teenagers may depend on the attitudes and perceptions of their parents. We identified encouraging and discouraging considerations that may make potential targets for public health officials when communicating about vaccines.Article SummaryEncouraging and discouraging considerations re COVID-19 vaccination are explored and identified in vaccine hesitant parents.What’s known on this subjectMost studies found that vaccine uptake is improved among well-to-do or highly educated parents. Severity of the disease and safety of the vaccination are the main factors influencing the decision.What this study addsThe dynamics of attitude change toward vaccination among VHPs may be affected by several different factors. Chief are children’s preferences and individual health characteristics, side effects and speed of vaccine development