J Korean Med Sci.  2021 Aug;36(31):e227. 10.3346/jkms.2021.36.e227.

Pediatric and Parents' Attitudes Towards COVID-19 Vaccines and Intention to Vaccinate for Children

• Choi SH
• Jo YH
• Jo KJ
• Park SE

• KMID: 2519204
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2021.36.e227

Abstract

Background
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination is necessary to reach herd immunity and essential for mitigating the spread of the pandemic. In May 2021, the US FDA and the EU have expanded the emergency use authorization for a COVID-19 vaccine to children aged 12 to 15. The aim of this study was to investigate parental acceptability of COVID-19 vaccination for their children, factors affecting their acceptability, and children's perceptions of COVID-19 vaccines in Republic of Korea.
Methods
We conducted a questionnaire survey at two tertiary hospitals from May 25, 2021 to June 3, 2021. Subjects were parents having children under 18 years and children aged 10–18 years.
Results
Two hundred twenty-six parents and 117 children aged 10–18 years were included in the final analysis. Overall, 76.5% and 64.2% of parents intended to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and intended to have their children vaccinated, respectively. However, only 49.6% of children responded that they would get COVID-19 vaccination. In the multivariate analysis, high confidence in the safety of COVID-19 vaccines (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 4.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.32–24.12), parents' willingness to vaccinate themselves (AOR, 19.42; 95% CI, 6.85–64.00), and awareness of the need to vaccinate children against COVID-19 (AOR, 13.15; 95% CI, 4.77–41.27) were associated with positive factors intention to vaccinate their children.
Conclusion
This study provides insight into how parents think about the COVID-19 vaccine for their children in South Korea. Our findings could be referenced in establishing a policy for childhood COVID-19 vaccination in the future.

Keyword

COVID-19 Vaccines; Vaccination Refusal; Parents; Child; Adolescent

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Participants' perception of COVID-19.COVID-19 = coronavirus disease 2019.

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  Fig. 2 Parental awareness and potential acceptability of COVID-19 vaccination for their children. (A) Confidence in the effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 vaccines. (B) The prior age group of COVID-19 vaccination for children. (C) Intention to vaccinate themselves and their children.COVID-19 = coronavirus disease 2019.

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  Fig. 3 The agreement rate of intention to vaccinate parents themselves and their children.NA = non-available.

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  Fig. 4 Children and adolescents' awareness and potential acceptability of COVID-19 vaccination. (A) Confidence in the effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 vaccines. (B) Intention to get COVID-19 vaccination.COVID-19 = coronavirus disease 2019.

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