Hesitancy towards Japanese Encephalitis vaccine and its socio-demographic correlates among parents attending to children aged <15 years in tertiary hospitals of Coastal South India

Abstract

Problem considered: Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a mosquito-borne disease with a vaccine as the main preventive strategy. Vaccine hesitancy among parents can pose a threat to the success of child vaccination programmes. Objectives: To determine the level of awareness regarding the transmission, treatment and sequelae of JE, assess the levels and determining factors of vaccine hesitancy and acceptance among parents accompanying their children aged 30 years (85.3% versus 83.7% among 2 children (90% versus 84.0% among those having </ = 2 children). With overall 72.5% vaccine acceptance, participants aged ≤30 years (OR = 2.08 (95% CI: 1.01–4.34; p = 0.047) and those aware of JE cases in the area (OR 27.76 (95% CI, 12.67–65.53), p < 0001), had higher vaccine acceptance rate. Conclusion: The participants had high level of awareness about JE cases being reported; lack of knowledge regarding the JE transmission, treatment, and consequences; high JE vaccine hesitancy and low acceptance rate.

Keywords

• Children aged <15 years
• Japanese encephalitis
• Parents
• Vaccine hesitancy