567 - Factors Associated with Parental COVID-19 Vaccination Acceptance

Poster Number: 567
Publication Number: 567.240

Mia C. Letterie, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States; Stephen Patrick, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN, United States; Alese Halvorson, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, United States; William D. Dupont, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, United States; Kecia N. Carroll, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States; Joseph Zickafoose, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN, United States; Sarah E. Williams, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN, United States

Background: As the coronavirus pandemic continues to impact families and children, parental acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine will be essential. Understanding parental attitudes and likely acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine, and factors associated with vaccine acceptance, is imperative in this effort.

Objective: The objective of our study was to identify factors associated with parents’ intent to vaccinate their child against COVID-19 and influenza.

Design/Methods: In late 2020, we conducted a statewide survey of a representative sample of parents in Tennessee focused on: 1) vaccine acceptance, 2) perspectives on vaccines, and 3) intention to vaccinate against COVID-19 and/or influenza. Data were collected using an online research panel and all respondents were required to have at least one child under the age of 18 who lives in the same household. We compared characteristics of parents who reported being likely or very likely to have their child receive the COVID-19 or influenza vaccines versus those who were unlikely or very unlikely. We evaluated the impact of demographic variables and vaccine attitudes on vaccine acceptance for children using multivariate logistic regression. Results were analyzed using weighted survey methods to generalize results to the state of Tennessee.

Results: Our survey included 1,066 parents; 58% were female and 75% reported White, Non-Hispanic race/ethnicity. Nearly half (46%) of parents had an average annual household income over $75,000 and 65% of parents had at least some college education. 53% of parents reported a likelihood to vaccinate their children against COVID-19, and 45% were likely to vaccinate their child against both COVID-19 and influenza. Female parents were less likely to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 (aOR 0.36; 95% CI 0.22-0.58) as well as parents with a Bachelor’s degree or higher (aOR 0.49; 95% CI 0.26-0.93) (Table 1). The odds of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance were 5 times higher (aOR 5.46; 95% CI 3.20-9.30) for parents who reported they are likely to get the influenza vaccine for their child when compared to those who are unlikely (Table 1).Conclusion(s): Parental likelihood of accepting of a COVID-19 vaccine for children is closely tied to acceptance of the influenza vaccine. Public health approaches to maximize vaccine uptake among children could focus on children who have not been receiving the influenza vaccine and determine strategies to address these barriers.
Table 1. Factors Associated with Influenza and COVID-19 Vaccination Among Tennessee Parents for their Children