Child and adolescent COVID-19 vaccination status and reasons for non-vaccination by parental vaccination status

Objectives: COVID-19 vaccines are recommended for children ages >= 5 years. To develop effective in-terventions to increase uptake, this study explores reasons for parental hesitancy of child and adolescent COVID-19 vaccination. Study design: The Household Pulse Survey (HPS) is a nationally representative cross-sectional online household survey of adults aged >= 18 years that began data collection in April 2020 to help understand household experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Using data from December 29, 2021, to January 10, 2022 (n = 11,478), we assessed child and adolescent COVID-19 vaccination coverage and parental intent to vaccinate their children and adoles-cents. Factors associated with child and adolescent vaccination coverage were examined using multi -variable regression models. Reasons for not having had their child or adolescent vaccinated, stratified by parental vaccination status, were compared using tests of differences in proportions. Results: Less than one-half (42.3%) of children and three-quarters (74.8%) of adolescents are vaccinated. Vaccination coverage was lower among households with lower education, as well as among children who had not had a preventive check-up in the past year. Parents of unvaccinated children were more likely to report that they do not trust COVID-19 vaccines, do not trust the government, and do not believe children need a COVID-19 vaccine compared to parents of vaccinated children. Conclusion: Efforts to increase uptake of vaccines by children and adolescents should target those with lower education, reassure parents of the vaccine safety and efficacy for themselves and their children/ adolescents, and support yearly preventive care visits for their children. (c) 2022 The Royal Society for Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Less than half of children and three-quarters of adolescents are vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccination coverage is lower among households with lower education and children without preventive check-ups. Parents of unvaccinated children are more likely to distrust vaccines and the government.