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Observational Study
. 2025 Feb 5;15(1):15.
doi: 10.1007/s44197-025-00364-3.

End of Pandemic Parental Hesitancy Towards Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccination: A Cross-sectional Survey at Two Lebanese Tertiary Hospitals

Sabine Shehab #  1 , Lina Anouti #  2 , Celina F Boutros  3 , Christelle Radi  1 , Silma El Baasiri  1   3 , Arabia Badih  4 , Rawan Korman  3 , Marwa El Masri  5 , Joudie Alwan  4 , Maha Monzer  4 , Yara Bitar  4 , Mona Kassem  4 , Mayse Naser  3 , Yara Salameh  3 , Sarah Khafaja  3   6 , Murielle Bou Ghosn  7 , Dany Al Hamod  5 , Sarah Ghadban  5 , Soha Ghanem  5 , Ghassan S Dbaibo  8   9
Affiliations
Observational Study

End of Pandemic Parental Hesitancy Towards Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccination: A Cross-sectional Survey at Two Lebanese Tertiary Hospitals

Sabine Shehab et al. J Epidemiol Glob Health. .

Abstract

Background: This observational prospective cross-sectional study was conducted during the last 4 months of the COVID-19 pandemic to determine whether parental hesitancy to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 had improved compared to earlier studies in other countries showing high levels of hesitancy.

Methods: Parents were surveyed from January 4 until May 16, 2023, at two tertiary medical centers in Beirut, the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) and the Saint George Hospital University Medical Center (SGHUMC).

Results: The study enrolled 950 participants, predominantly mothers (79.6%) aged 30-49 (79%), highly educated parents (69.8% of mothers and 62.2% of fathers were university graduates). Although routine childhood vaccinations received remarkable acceptance (98.3%), there was considerable hesitancy towards pediatric COVID-19 (56.4%). Only 9.4% had vaccinated all eligible children. The main parental concern was the vaccine's safety and perceived lack of testing (p < 0.001). Other factors were parental gender, vaccination status, and children's age. In the adjusted model, mothers had a higher rate of vaccine acceptance (AOR: 1.746 [1.059-2.878], p = 0.029). Similarly, parents vaccinated against COVID-19 vaccine (AOR: 2.703, p < 0.001) and parents of children aged 12-17 (AOR: 4.450, p < 0.001) had more vaccine acceptance.

Conclusion: This study's findings indicate a persistently high level of hesitancy for pediatric COVID-19 vaccination despite more than two years of positive global experience with the vaccine. Raising awareness about the safety and effectiveness of pediatric COVID-19 vaccination would address this hesitancy and mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on children's health and well-being.

Keywords: COVID-19; Children; Lebanon; Parents; Vaccination.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Consent to Participate: Verbal informed consent was obtained from the parents prior to the interview. Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Parents’ perceptions about vaccination in general, and COVID-19 vaccine in specific
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Parents’ responses to whether they have vaccinated their children against COVID-19 infection (n = 639)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Sources of recommendations for COVID-19 vaccine
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Willingness of parents to vaccinate their children against COVID-19
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Reasons for parents’ refusal to give the COVID-19 vaccine to their children
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Sources and the level of information of the parents about COVID-19 vaccine
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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