Vaccines (Apr 2021)

Vaccine Hesitancy: COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccine Willingness among Parents in Wuxi, China—A Cross-Sectional Study

  • Qiang Wang,
  • Shixin Xiu,
  • Shuangyu Zhao,
  • Jianli Wang,
  • Ying Han,
  • Shuheng Dong,
  • Jinxin Huang,
  • Tingting Cui,
  • Liuqing Yang,
  • Naiyang Shi,
  • Minqi Liu,
  • Yue Han,
  • Xuwen Wang,
  • Yuan Shen,
  • Enpin Chen,
  • Bing Lu,
  • Hui Jin,
  • Leesa Lin

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9040342
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 4
p. 342

Abstract

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Objectives: We aimed to (1) assess parental hesitancy about category A (Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI)) and B (non-EPI) vaccines, (2) assess parental willingness for COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations, and (3) explore the association of vaccination hesitancy of parents and healthcare workers (HCWs). Methods: The study was performed in Wuxi, eastern China between 21 September 2020 and 17 October 2020. Parents of children aged p = 0.000). Overall, 59.3% and 52.4% of parents reported willingness to avail COVID-19 and influenza vaccination for their children, respectively; 51.2% of the HCWs wanted to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Parental category B VHS scores were associated with HCW category B VHS scores (r = 0.928, p = 0.008). Conclusions: In China, parents are more hesitant about category B vaccines than category A vaccines. More than 40% of parents showed hesitancy and a refusal to use COVID-19 and influenza vaccines.

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