Willingness to Vaccinate Children against Influenza after the COVID-19 Pandemic

Goldman, Ran D.; McGregor, Sophie; Marneni, Shashidhar R.; Katsuta, Tomohiro; Griffiths, Mark A.; Hall, Jeanine E.; Seiler, Michelle; Klein, Eileen J.; Cotanda, Cristina Parra; Gelernter, Renana; Hoeffe, Julia; Davis, Adrienne L.; Gualco, Gianluca; Mater, Ahmed; Manzano, Sergio; Thompson, Graham C.; Ahmed, Sara; Ali, Samina; Brown, Julie C.

OBJECTIVES: To determine factors associated with parents who plan to vaccinate their children against influenza next year, especially those who did not vaccinate against influenza last year using a global survey. STUDY DESIGN: A survey of caregivers accompanying their children 1-19 years-old in 17 Pediatric Emergency Departments (ED) in six countries at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Anonymous online survey included caregiver and child demographic information, vaccination history and future intentions, and concern about the child and caregiver having COVID-19 at the time of ED visit. RESULTS: Of 2422 surveys, 1314 (54.2%) caregivers stated they plan to vaccinate their child against influenza next year, an increase of 15.8% from the prior year. Of 1459 caregivers who did not vaccinate their children last year, 418 (28.6%) plan to do so next year. Factors predicting willingness to change and vaccinate included child’s up-to-date vaccination status (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=2.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.29 – 3.32 P = .003); caregivers’ influenza vaccine history (aOR=3.26, 95% CI 2.41 – 4.40 , p< 0.010), and level of concern their child had COVID-19 (aOR=1.09, 95% CI 1.01 – 1.17, p=0.022). CONCLUSIONS: Changes in risk perception due to COVID-19, and prior vaccination, may serve to influence decision-making among caregivers regarding influenza vaccination in the coming season. In order to promote influenza vaccination among children, public health programs can leverage this information.