To be or not to be vaccinated against COVID-19 – The adolescents’ perspective – A mixed-methods study in Sweden
S. Nilsson,
J. Mattson,
M. Berghammer,
A-L. Brorsson,
M. Forsner,
M. Jenholt Nolbris,
I. Kull,
A. Lindholm Olinder,
S. Ragnarsson,
A-C. Rullander,
L-L. Rydström,
M. Andréia Garcia de Avila,
P. Olaya-Contreras
Affiliations
S. Nilsson
University of Gothenburg, Institute of Health and Care Sciences, and University of Gothenburg Centre for Person-Centred Care (GPCC), Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg, Sweden; Corresponding author.
J. Mattson
Red Cross University College, Institute of Health Care, Karolinska Institute, Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics, Stockholm, Sweden
M. Berghammer
University West, Department of Health Sciences, Trollhättan, Sweden; The Queen Silvia Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Gothenburg, Sweden
A-L. Brorsson
Karolinska Institute, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Huddinge, Sweden
M. Forsner
Karolinska Institute, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Stockholm, Sweden; Umeå University, Department of Nursing, Umeå, Sweden
M. Jenholt Nolbris
University of Gothenburg, Institute of Health and Care Sciences, and University of Gothenburg Centre for Person-Centred Care (GPCC), Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg, Sweden; The Queen Silvia Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Gothenburg, Sweden
I. Kull
Karolinska Institute, Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden; Sachs’ Children and Youth Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
A. Lindholm Olinder
Karolinska Institute, Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden; Sachs’ Children and Youth Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
S. Ragnarsson
Umeå University, Department of Nursing, Umeå, Sweden; Umeå University, Institute of Epidemiology and Global Health and Institution of Care Science, Sweden
A-C. Rullander
Umeå University, Department of Nursing, Umeå, Sweden
L-L. Rydström
Karolinska Institute, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Huddinge, Sweden
M. Andréia Garcia de Avila
Botucatu Medical School - UNESP, Nursing Department, Botucatu, Brazil
P. Olaya-Contreras
University of Gothenburg, Institute of Health and Care Sciences, and University of Gothenburg Centre for Person-Centred Care (GPCC), Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg, Sweden
Vaccination of the population seems to be an important strategy in halting the COVID-19 pandemic in both local and global society. The aim of this study was to explore Swedish adolescents’ willingness to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and its association with sociodemographic and other possible factors. A survey was distributed in Sweden between 7 July and 8 November 2020. The main qualitative question concerned adolescents’ thoughts on vaccination against COVID-19 and evaluated whether the adolescents would like to be vaccinated when a COVID-19 vaccine is made available. In total, 702 adolescents aged between 15 and 19 responded to the questionnaire. A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was used. The results showed that nearly one in three adolescents had not decided if they wanted to get a COVID-19 vaccine, i.e. 30.5%: n = 214. Of the participants 54.3% (n = 381) were willing to be vaccinated. Girls had higher levels of anxiety about the vaccine compared to boys. In addition, high levels of anxiety impacted on the participants’ willingness to be vaccinated. One reason for being undecided about the vaccine was that participants felt they did not know enough about it. Practising social distancing increased willingness to be vaccinated, as reflected in the qualitative results which showed participants wanted to be vaccinated to protect others. The results impart important knowledge to healthcare professionals and contribute to their communication with adolescents about vaccine hesitancy.
