Analysis of Parents' Attitudes and Knowledge toward Immunization and How These Factors Influence Their Decisions to Vaccinate Their Children against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)

Background and objectives: Vaccination hesitancy is a growing problem associated with decreasing chances for the elimination of vaccine-preventable diseases through immunization. This research was conducted to learn about parents' attitudes toward vaccination, particularly against HPV, in the context of their beliefs and fears regarding immunization and the impact of these views on their children's vaccination decisions. An additional goal was to determine what views or convictions most often lead to the phenomenon of delaying or refusing vaccinations, especially HPV vaccines, in the surveyed community. Materials and Methods: An online questionnaire was conducted in which parents marked how they vaccinated their children with mandatory vaccinations and whether they took the opportunity to protect their children with additional vaccinations, including HPV and COVID-19. Respondents also marked the extent to which they agreed with the statements, regarding the safety of vaccinations, doubts about them, as well as popular anti-vaccine myths. Results: A total of 250 questionnaires were collected with data on the immunization of 425 children. Associations between specific beliefs and vaccine abstention were established. The most motivating factor for vaccination against HPV was the parent's awareness that the virus HP is the cause of cancer. The most inhibiting factor was respondent's compliance with the opinion that HPV vaccines can affect the child's sexual activity. Conclusions: The results indicate that information campaigns are needed, especially focusing on vaccine safety and the regularity and transparency of monitoring adverse effects. The obtained results will be used to create educational interventions against vaccination hesitancy more adapted to local conditions.

COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance in Pregnant and Lactating Women and Mothers of Young Children in Poland

Purpose

The World Health Organization indicated vaccine hesitancy as one of the top 10 threats to global health. The success of a vaccine depends not only on its efficacy but also on its acceptance. Our study aims to define COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in a sample of pregnant and lactating women in Poland. Since mothers are often key decision-makers for whether their children will receive vaccination, it is vital to measure vaccine confidence among this group.

Patients and Methods

An anonymous online survey was distributed to assess the level of acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination among pregnant and lactating women for themselves and their children in Poland.

Results

The trust of pregnant and breastfeeding women and women who have offspring in government, in healthcare professionals, in scientific authorities, and sound scientific data is strongly associated with vaccine acceptance and may influence an individual's decision to perceive recommended actions as beneficial to the society as a whole.

Conclusion

Acceptance and confidence in receiving the COVID-19 vaccination among pregnant and lactating women and mothers with young children is strongly associated with feelings of trust in government, health professionals, scientific authorities, and sound scientific data. The dissemination of professional and reliable information regarding the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccine uptake by qualified health care personnel can significantly increase the level of trust and public awareness regarding the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccine uptake in pregnancy, while breastfeeding, and mothers with young children.

[Attitude of health care workers towards SARS-CoV-2 vaccination]

Fragestellung: Einstellung von Pflegekräften zur SARS-CoV-2-Impfung und einer etwaigen Impfpflicht.

Methode: Im Rahmen einer strukturierten anonymen wissenschaftlichen Erhebung zwischen 29. Januar und 26. April 2021 wurden Fragebögen an 72 Leiter von Orthopädie- und Unfallchirurgie-Abteilungen verschickt. Die Ärzte wurden gebeten, das Einverständnis von Klinikverwaltung, Pflegedienstleitung und Betriebsrat einzuholen und die Fragebögen an das Pflegepersonal zu verteilen und wieder einzusammeln. Die statistische Auswertung erfolgte deskriptiv.

Ergebnisse: Es wurden 355 Antworten aus 5 Kliniken ausgewertet. In 65 der 72 Kliniken lehnten Verwaltung, Pflegedienstleitung oder Betriebsrat die Teilnahme ab, in 2 Kliniken waren die ärztlichen Leiter nicht interessiert. 50,7% der Pflegekräfte waren bereits geimpft oder hatten einen festen Impftermin, 14,9% waren noch unentschlossen und 34,4% lehnten eine Impfung ab. Gegen eine Impfpflicht sprach sich die Mehrheit der Pflegekräfte aus (47,6%), weniger als ein Viertel befürwortete sie (23,4%).

Schlussfolgerung: Die Impfbereitschaft war in dieser Umfrage ausgesprochen gering. Hauptgrund für Impfverweigerung ist Angst vor Nebenwirkungen, Aufklärung sollte daher in erster Linie auf dieses Thema fokussieren.

Schlüsselwörter: SARS-CoV-2, Corona, COVID-19, Impfbereitschaft, Impfpflicht, Pflegekräfte, Nebenwirkungen, Impfskepsis

Eingereicht am 13.6.2021 - Revision akzeptiert am 21.6.2021