Parental hesitancy against COVID-19 vaccination for children and associated factors in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Since July 2021, some countries and regions have initiated the vaccination of minors against coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and parental COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy will affect the vaccination of minors. We aimed to identify the level of parental hesitancy to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 in Taiwan and the factors associated with vaccine hesitancy. METHODS: We conducted a population-based, self-administered online questionnaire in Taiwan to assess parental hesitancy and the factors influencing their children's vaccination against COVID-19. RESULTS: Among 384 respondents, 64.1% were hesitant to have their children vaccinated against COVID-19. Mothers were more likely to hesitate to vaccinate their teens than their fathers (67.5% vs. 50%, P < 0.005). Multiple regression results showed that parents who were hesitant to vaccinate themselves (OR = 3.81, 95% CI:2.07-7.02) and those who scored lower on their perception of their children's vaccination (OR = 9.73, 95% CI:5.62-16.84) were more hesitant to vaccinate their children with COVID-19 vaccine. CONCLUSIONS: According to the study findings, 64.1% of Taiwanese parents were hesitant to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. Parents who were hesitant to receive the COVID-19 vaccine for themselves and had negative views of the vaccine for their children were more likely to be hesitant to vaccinate their children. An in-depth discussion of the factors affecting vaccine hesitancy and targeted health education is conducive to promoting vaccination in children with COVID-19.

Positive and negative factors of parents vaccinating their children against COVID-19: An umbrella review.

Purpose: This umbrella review summarized the factors influencing parents' hesitancy to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 and the evidence to reduce it. Methods: The analysis included PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus articles published before March 22, 2024. It considered all meta-analyses that investigated parental COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Results: Eight studies were included. Hesitancy rate of parents from five continents to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 was between 0.69 % and 95.0 %. The comprehensive synthesis in this review shows that the influencing factors originate from four aspects: Parents' attitudes, including their trust in the scientific community, concerns about COVID-19 complications, perceptions of children's susceptibility, and support from the social environment, including government incentives, low vaccination costs, and specific sociodemographic characteristics, were positive factors that reduced parental vaccine hesitancy in children. Conversely, negative aspects, including vaccine distrust, the spread of misinformation, poor economic status, and concern about unprecedentedly short development time, were associated with increased hesitancy. Conclusion: Our study identified positive and negative factors for parental COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in children and highlighted that parental attitude was the most important determinant.

Impact of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection on college students' hesitancy to receive additional COVID-19 vaccine booster doses: A study from Taizhou, China.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the impact of a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the hesitancy of college students to receive additional COVID-19 vaccine booster doses. Methods: A population-based self-administered online survey was conducted in July 2024 in Taizhou, China. A total of 792 respondents were included in this study. Logistic regression was conducted to identify factors associated with college students' hesitation to receive booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Results: Of 792 respondents, 32.2 % hesitated to receive additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine booster. Furthermore, 23.5 % of the respondents reported an increase in hesitancy to receiving additional COVID-19 vaccine booster doses compared to before they were infected with SARS-CoV-2. In the regression analyses, college students who had a secondary infection were more hesitant to receive additional COVID-19 vaccine booster doses (OR = 0.481, 95 % CI: (0.299-0.774), P = 0.003). Moreover, students with secondary infections who were male (OR = 0.417, 95 % CI: 0.221-0.784, P = 0.007), with lower than a bachelor's degree (OR = 0.471, 95 % CI: 0.272-0.815, P = 0.007), in non-medical majors (OR = 0.460, 95 % CI: 0.248-0.856, P = 0.014), and sophomores or below (OR = 0.483, 95 % CI: 0.286-0.817, P = 0.007) were more hesitant to receive additional COVID-19 vaccine booster doses. Conclusion: A history of SARS-CoV-2 infection affects college students' hesitation to receive additional COVID-19 vaccine booster doses, which was higher in those who experienced secondary infections.

Parents' willingness to pay for their children's COVID-19 vaccine in Taiwan, China: A cross-sectional study.

Most COVID-19 studies aim to assess factors influencing willingness to pay for vaccines between the public and medical staff. However, few studies focus on parents' willingness to pay for their children's COVID-19 vaccine. The current study aimed to assess parents' willingness to pay for their children's vaccination against COVID-19 and its influencing factors. This population-based cross-sectional study used a self-administered questionnaire. The inclusion criterion was parents with at least one child younger than 18 years. The final analysis included 384 valid data points. A total of 89.1% of the parents indicated that they are willing to pay for their children's vaccination against COVID-19. Among them, both fathers' and mothers' willingness to pay for their children's COVID-19 vaccine was 89.6%. The mean and median willingness to pay were% would pay for their children. Excluding other confounding factors, willingness to pay for the COVID-19 vaccine for themselves and hesitation to vaccinate their children were significantly associated with parents' willingness to pay for their children's COVID-19 vaccine. We found that 89.1% of the parents in Taiwan would pay for their children's COVID-19 vaccine. Parents' willingness to pay for themselves and hesitation to vaccinate their children were associated with willingness to pay. Reducing hesitation about vaccines and developing policies for vaccine payment may have a positive impact on willingness to pay for vaccines and promoting COVID-19 vaccination.

Impact of household decision makers' hesitancy to vaccinate children against COVID-19 on other household members: A family-based study in Taizhou, China.

Background: Vaccination is the most effective means of preventing outbreaks of infectious diseases, and family ;decision makers play an important role in decision-making regarding family matters and may influence other family members to take an active role in vaccinating children against COVID-19. Purpose: This study examined the influence of family decision makers on the hesitation of other family members to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. Methods: A population-based, self-administered online questionnaire was administered in Taizhou, China, from September 1, 2021, to September 15, 2021. The questionnaire included demographic information, knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions about the COVID-19 vaccine as well as hesitation regarding the use of the COVID-19 vaccination in children. In total, 490 respondents were included in this study. Logistic regression was used to assess the factors associated with vaccine hesitancy. Results: In total, 490 respondents from 190 households were interviewed. Of the 190 family decision makers, 43.7% (83/190) were hesitant to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. When family decision makers were hesitant to vaccinate children against COVID-19, 65.1% (82/126) of the other family members expressed similar hesitancy regarding vaccination. When family decision makers were not hesitant to vaccinate children, only 21.3% (37/174) of other family members were hesitant to do so. In the regression analysis, family decision makers' hesitation to vaccinate their children was associated with other family members' hesitation (OR=6.264, 95% CI:3.132-12.526). In addition, decision makers' perceptions of the safety of the vaccine (OR=0.422, 95% CI:0.215-0.826) and hesitation to vaccinate themselves (OR=8.967, 95% CI:4.745-16.948) influenced their hesitation to vaccinate their children. Conclusion: The present study found that family decision makers' hesitation to vaccinate children against COVID-19 influenced other family members' hesitation to vaccinate children. In addition, family decision makers' perceptions of the safety of the vaccine and their hesitation to vaccinate themselves influenced other family members' hesitation to vaccinate their children.