Meningococcal B: tell me everything you know and everything you don't know. New Zealanders' decision-making regarding an immunisation programme

Abstract

Aims: To describe parents' decision-making process and investigate what factors influenced decisions regarding children's participation in the MeNZB immunisation programme.

Method: 10 parents who consented to their children receiving the vaccine, 10 parents who did not consent to immunise their child, and 1 parent who chose to immunise only 1 of their 2 children all participated in a semi-structured interview. A qualitative descriptive thematic analysis was thereafter undertaken.

Results: Both groups of parents were influenced by similar factors and followed similar decision-making processes. Four non-linear phases were identified; a gut reaction, a trigger, reconnaissance, and risk analysis. Most parents expressed a degree of uncertainty about their decision.

Conclusion: Parents had a largely unfulfilled desire for reliable, valid, and balanced information about the MeNZB vaccine. Health authorities balance of risk at a population level may not coincide with that of individual parents. This study suggests other factors are likely to influence decisions. Parents' generally negative view of official information provided in the MeNZB immunisation programme suggest that communication strategies may require rethinking for future programmes.