Factors influencing Jordanian parents' COVID-19 vaccination decision for children: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Vaccine hesitancy is a major public health problem that emerged post-COVID-19 pandemic, especially for children. Different factors influence parents' perspectives about vaccinating their children and can vary across different populations and contexts.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the vaccine hesitancy among parents in Jordan to vaccinate their children between the ages of 5 and 18.

Design and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was used. A convenient sample was used to recruit Jordanian parents. Data was collected via an online questionnaire including demographic data, the Vaccine Hesitancy Questionnaire, the Questionnaire of Vaccine Hesitancy Reasons, and the Vaccine Conspiracy Beliefs Scale.

Results: Over 177 parents, the mean age was 37.74 years (SD = 8.39); the majority of them were females (74%). 51.4% of the participants refused to give the COVID-19 vaccine to their children. Concerns about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine and lack of information about disease and vaccine were the common reasons for the parents' hesitancy. In addition, 54.2% of participants agreement was with the conspiracy theory that pharmaceutical companies cover up the dangers of vaccines. Parents' younger age and fewer children were associated with hesitancy to vaccinate their children with COVID-19.

Conclusions: Many parents are hesitant to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. Concerns about the vaccine's efficacy and safety as well as potential long-term negative effects were the main reasons for vaccine hesitancy.

Practice implications: Nurses play a critical role in determining parental hesitancy. Providing detailed, accurate, evidence-based vaccine information is essential to reduce this hesitancy.

Keywords: COVID-19; Children; Jordan; Parents; Vaccine hesitancy.