Post by Nadica (She/Her) on Jul 17, 2024 22:54:27 GMT
CDC analysis shows high rate of parental hesitation toward kids' vaccinations - Published July 17, 2024
Analysis of US national survey data reveal that the percentage of children with a vaccine-hesitant parent varies by vaccine, ranging from 56% for the COVID-19 vaccine to 12% for routine childhood vaccines, according to a study yesterday in Vaccine.
Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) wrote, "Some public health professionals have expressed concern that the COVID-19 pandemic has increased vaccine hesitancy about routine childhood vaccines."
They analyzed data from the National Immunization Survey-Child COVID-19 Module from October 2022 through April 2023 to quantify the potential impact on children 6 months to 17 years old. They assessed their parents' hesitancy toward COVID-19, flu, and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines, as well as "all other childhood shots."
About 30% of parents hesitant about flu, HPV vaccines
The percentage of children with a parent who was somewhat or very hesitant varied widely by vaccine, with hesitancy toward COVID vaccines, at 55.9%, far outpacing the others. The percentage of children who had a parent hesitant about the flu vaccine was 30.9%, for the HPV vaccine it was 30.1%, and for other vaccines, such as those protecting against measles, polio, and tetanus, it was 12.2%. The percentage that was very hesitant was 37.6%, 15.0%, 14.4%, and 4.1%, respectively, for COVID, flu, HPV, and childhood vaccines.
Differences in hesitation among racial and ethnic groups also varied by vaccine. For example, for COVID-19, a lower percentage of Asian (38.1%) and Hispanic (51.5%) children had a hesitant parent than White children (58.4%). For flu, 20.3% of Asian and 27.9% of Hispanic children were in that category, compared with 30.2% of White children, 39.8% of Black children, and 35.3% of children of other or multiple races.
The CDC researchers conclude, "The study findings of large differences in vaccine hesitancy across vaccines suggest the usefulness of developing vaccine-specific hesitancy interventions and communications for parents to educate about COVID-19, influenza, HPV, and other routine childhood vaccinations."
Analysis of US national survey data reveal that the percentage of children with a vaccine-hesitant parent varies by vaccine, ranging from 56% for the COVID-19 vaccine to 12% for routine childhood vaccines, according to a study yesterday in Vaccine.
Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) wrote, "Some public health professionals have expressed concern that the COVID-19 pandemic has increased vaccine hesitancy about routine childhood vaccines."
They analyzed data from the National Immunization Survey-Child COVID-19 Module from October 2022 through April 2023 to quantify the potential impact on children 6 months to 17 years old. They assessed their parents' hesitancy toward COVID-19, flu, and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines, as well as "all other childhood shots."
About 30% of parents hesitant about flu, HPV vaccines
The percentage of children with a parent who was somewhat or very hesitant varied widely by vaccine, with hesitancy toward COVID vaccines, at 55.9%, far outpacing the others. The percentage of children who had a parent hesitant about the flu vaccine was 30.9%, for the HPV vaccine it was 30.1%, and for other vaccines, such as those protecting against measles, polio, and tetanus, it was 12.2%. The percentage that was very hesitant was 37.6%, 15.0%, 14.4%, and 4.1%, respectively, for COVID, flu, HPV, and childhood vaccines.
Differences in hesitation among racial and ethnic groups also varied by vaccine. For example, for COVID-19, a lower percentage of Asian (38.1%) and Hispanic (51.5%) children had a hesitant parent than White children (58.4%). For flu, 20.3% of Asian and 27.9% of Hispanic children were in that category, compared with 30.2% of White children, 39.8% of Black children, and 35.3% of children of other or multiple races.
The CDC researchers conclude, "The study findings of large differences in vaccine hesitancy across vaccines suggest the usefulness of developing vaccine-specific hesitancy interventions and communications for parents to educate about COVID-19, influenza, HPV, and other routine childhood vaccinations."