Parental COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy: a cross-sectional survey in Italy

Abstract

Background: Understanding parents' hesitancy against COVID-19 vaccination for their children is useful.

Methods: A self-administered online survey was conducted among 394 parents with at least one child aged 12-18 years in Italy.

Results: The mean perceived risk that their child can be infected by the SARS-CoV-2, measured on a 10-point Likert-type scale, was 7.7 and it was higher if at least one parent/partner cohabitant have had COVID-19, in those who believed that COVID-19 is a serious illness, and in those who had not vaccinated their child. 82.1% respondents were willing to vaccinate their child and this was more likely among those who believed that this vaccine is useful and who did not need additional information. 12.4% were, according to the 5-item Parent Attitudes About Childhood Vaccines Survey (PACV-5) score, high-hesitant toward anti-COVID-19 vaccination. Respondents not graduated, those who did not believe that this vaccination was useful, those who did not get this vaccine, those who did not obtain information from physicians, and those who needed additional information were more likely to be high-hesitant.

Conclusions: Communication and public health interventions must be intensified to enhance the attitude and to help parents in deciding on COVID-19 vaccination of their children.

Keywords: COVID-19; Children; Italy; parents; vaccination; vaccine hesitancy.