Vaccine hesitancy in adolescents regarding COVID-19 vaccination: A literature review

Abstract

Background: Previous reviews on the cause of vaccine hesitancy (VH) have not included vaccine hesitancy related to the COVID-19 vaccination in adolescents, which is necessary for minimizing disruptions to education and the maintenance of their overall well-being, health, and safety. This review aims to provide an overview of vaccine-hesitant perspectives on the COVID-19 vaccination in adolescents and the factors that influence them. Methods: This review followed the Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis for Literature Review (PRISMA). Searches were carried out in the PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar databases. Following data extraction, a thematic analysis of vaccine hesitancy in adolescents regarding COVID-19 vaccines was conducted. Results: Seven articles were included. Nine areas were identified as factors influencing vaccine hesitancy, namely gender identity, parental roles, vaccine safety and effectiveness, perceptions of COVID-19 as a disease, medical professionals’ recommendations, health behavior, vaccination experience, adolescent ignorance, and religious concerns. Our findings suggest that the scientific knowledge of vaccines and the size of clinical trials during their development reduce vaccine hesitancy. Conclusion: Our findings build on those of previous research to suggest specific information that may help address vaccine hesitancy among adolescents.

Keywords

• Adolescents
• Vaccine hesitancy
• COVID-19