COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among parents of children and adolescents living in Brazil

Bagateli, Leonardo Evangelista; Saeki, Edna Yayoi; Fadda, Marta; Agostoni, Carlo; Marchisio, Paola Giovanna; Milani, Gregorio Paolo

doi:10.3390/vaccines9101115

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Journal article

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among parents of children and adolescents living in Brazil

Bagateli, Leonardo Evangelista Department of Clinical Science and Community Health, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
Saeki, Edna Yayoi Pediatrics, Hospital Estadual de Bauru, Bauru, Brazil
Fadda, Marta ORCID Institute of Public Health (IPH), Università della Svizzera italiana, Switzerland
Agostoni, Carlo ORCID Department of Clinical Science and Community Health, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy - Pediatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
Marchisio, Paola Giovanna ORCID Department of Clinical Science and Community Health, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy - Pediatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
Milani, Gregorio Paolo ORCID Department of Clinical Science and Community Health, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy - Pediatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy

2021

Published in:

Vaccines. - 2021, vol. 9, no. 10, p. 1115

parent attitudes about childhood vaccines

English Background: The immunization of large portions of populations in low/middle-income countries is considered one of the key measures to limit the development of new SARS-CoV-2 variants. However, parental vaccine hesitancy might be an important obstacle to pediatric vaccination. The aim of this survey was to study the prevalence and extent of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among parents of children and adolescents living in Brazil. Methods: Caregivers of children and adolescents referred to the emergency department of Hospital Estadual de Bauru, São Paulo (Brazil) were invited to fill in a validated questionnaire on vaccine hesitancy and to report their willingness for themselves and their offspring to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Results: A total of 501 consecutive caregivers filled in the survey. Response rate was 100%. A minority (N = 14, 2.8%) of caregivers were hesitant about vaccines. Despite this, half of them declared they were willing to vaccinate their offspring against COVID-19. Conclusions: This survey identifies that vaccine hesitancy is very low among caregivers living in Brazil and that even many of the hesitant caregivers are willing to vaccinate their offspring against COVID-19. This study highlights the importance of offering the COVID-19 vaccination to the whole population, including subjects that present uncertainty about other vaccines.

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