Pediatric Vaccine Hesitancy and the Utilization of Antibody Measurements: A Novel Strategy with Implications for COVID 19

Parental Perception and Barriers Regarding COVID-19 Vaccination in Technology Dependent Children

INTRODUCTION

Children who use chronic home mechanical ventilation are at high risk for respiratory infections and mortality. They are also at increased risk for developing severe COVID-19 infection. The primary goal of this study was to evaluate the parental perception of the COVID-19 vaccine in pediatric patients with technology dependence.

METHOD

We conducted a cross-sectional survey at a children's hospital between September 2021 and February 2022. A telephone or in-person interview was conducted to assesss parental attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine for their technology-dependent child. Technology-dependent groups included patients requiring (1) invasive mechanical ventilation via tracheostomy and (2) noninvasive mechanical ventilation via a facial interface.

RESULTS

Fourteen of 44 participants (32%) of technology-dependent children were vaccinated for COVID-19 despite high parental vaccination and influenza vaccination rates. Twenty-eight patients (63% of total participants) were tracheostomy dependent. In the tracheostomy group, the COVID-19 vaccine rate was 28% versus 54% in the nontracheostomy group.  Concern for vaccine side effects was the major reason for vaccine hesitancy (53%). More parents of vaccinated children than unvaccinated children were counseled by their primary care provider (85.7% vs. 46.7%; p = .02) or subspecialist (93% vs. 47%; p = .003).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest counseling by primary care providers and subspecialists is important in overcoming COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Social media was identified as a major source of information, particularly among parents of unvaccinated patients.

Prevalence and risk factors of depression and anxiety among Chinese adults who received SARS-CoV-2 vaccine - A cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND

Direct data reflecting the psychological problems during the nationwide SARS-CoV-2 vaccination campaign are scarce in China. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of depression and anxiety and investigate the associated risk factors after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 among Chinese adults.

METHODS

We conducted a web-based cross-sectional survey from June to July 2021. A structured questionnaire including the Patient Health Questionnaire-9(PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7(GAD-7) was used to investigated depression and anxiety symptoms. After excluding 223 ineligible records, a total of 6984 participants were included in our final analysis. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to examined the potential factors associated with depression or anxiety.

RESULTS

Our data indicated that the overall prevalence of depression and anxiety was assessed at 19.39 % and 9.74 %, respectively. Participants who had vaccinated the second dose were more likely to have depressive symptoms (20.95 % vs.16.40 %) and anxiety symptoms (10.38 % vs. 8.51 %) than who had vaccinated the first dose. Multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated female gender, being healthcare worker, college or above and planning a pregnancy were all independently linked to depression or anxiety.

LIMITATIONS

The present study was based on an online survey.

CONCLUSION

The present study confirmed the presence of depression and anxiety among Chinese adults who received SARS-COV-2 vaccine, as well as the potential influencing factors. Additional attention and psychological support should be directed at these high-risk groups during SARS-CoV-2 vaccination campaign.

Association between risk perception and influenza vaccine hesitancy for children among reproductive women in China during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national online survey

Background

In China, the national prevalence of parental influenza vaccine hesitancy (IVH) during the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and the association between risk perception and parental IVH are still unclear. We aimed to explore the association between risk perception and IVH for children among reproductive women in China, a poorly studied area.

Methods

From December 14, 2020, to January 31, 2021, we conducted a national anonymous online survey on IVH for children among reproductive women in China. We assessed risk perception including perceived susceptibility, severity, barriers, and benefits using the Health Belief Model and then classified each variable into three groups based on tertiles. Logistic regression models were used to calculate the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of risk perception related to vaccine hesitancy after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, health status, and knowledge of influenza, among other factors. Additionally, subgroup analysis was performed.

Results

Among 3,011 reproductive women, 9.13% reported IVH. In multivariable models, vaccine hesitancy was associated with low perceived susceptibility (aOR = 2.55, 95% CI: 1.79–3.65), higher perceived barriers (moderate: aOR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.04–2.08; high: aOR = 2.20, 95% CI: 1.47–3.30), and low perceived benefit (moderate: aOR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.03–1.92; low: aOR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.43–3.07). Subgroup analysis showed that vaccine hesitancy was more likely to occur among women with high perceived barriers aged < 30 years compared with those older than 30 years (P for difference = 0.041) and among women with moderate perceived benefit who had never conceived compared with those had a history of pregnancy (P for difference = 0.048).

Conclusions

Nearly one in 10 reproductive women was hesitant about influenza vaccination for their children during the COVID-19 pandemic. To mitigate vaccine hesitancy, our findings highlight a need for tailored public health measures to increase perceived disease susceptibility and vaccine benefit and decrease perceived barriers. Furthermore, the effect of high perceived barriers and moderate perceived benefit on vaccine hesitancy was higher among younger women and women who had never conceived.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-12782-0.

The Association Between Risk Perception and COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy for Children Among Reproductive Women in China: An Online Survey

Background: This study aimed to explore the association between risk perception and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine hesitancy among reproductive women in China to supplement limited studies in this area. Methods: From December 14, 2020, to January 31, 2021, an anonymous cross-sectional online survey was conducted on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy for children among reproductive women in China. We assessed risk perception, including perceived susceptibility, severity, barriers, and benefits using the health belief model, and then classified each variable into three groups (low, moderate, and high) based on tertiles. Information on sociodemographic characteristics, health status, and knowledge of COVID-19 was also collected. The Pearson χ²-test was used to compare vaccine hesitancy among the above mentioned factors. Logistic regression models were used to calculate the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of risk perception related to vaccine hesitancy after controlling for the above covariates. Results: Among 3,011 reproductive women, 8.44% (95%CI: 7.44. 9.43) had COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Vaccine hesitancy was observed more in women who lived in eastern China (11.63%), aged >45 years (12.00%), had a lower than high school education level (12.77%), and a low score on knowledge of COVID-19 (12.22%). Vaccine hesitancy was associated with lower perceived susceptibility (moderate: aOR = 1.72, 95%CI: 1.17-2.54, P = 0.0061; low: aOR = 2.44, 95%CI: 1.60-3.70, P < 0.0001), high perceived barriers (aOR = 2.86, 95%CI: 1.57-5.22, P < 0.0001), and lower perceived benefit (moderate: aOR = 3.29, 95%CI: 2.30-4.70, P < 0.0001; low: aOR = 4.59, 95%CI: 2.98-7.07, P < 0.0001), but not with perceived severity. Conclusions: Although the proportion of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy for children among Chinese reproductive women was <1 out of 10, to improve COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, our findings suggest that tailored public health measures are needed to increase perceived susceptibility and benefit, and decrease perceived barriers among reproductive women.