Genies Marquita C, Loftus John O, Sick-Samuels Anna C, Limaye Rupali J, Duchen Jessica A, Fadrowski Jeffrey J
Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
AJPM Focus. 2024 Aug 10;3(5):100266. doi: 10.1016/j.focus.2024.100266. eCollection 2024 Oct.
COVID-19 hospitalization rates among unvaccinated children are double of that of vaccinated children, and this difference is greater among racial and ethnic minority children. Vaccination rates among children remain suboptimal. Few studies have characterized barriers to COVID-19 vaccination among historically marginalized communities.
From January 2022 to May 2022, parents and guardians of children aged 12 months to 18 years presenting for pediatric care at a hospital-based primary care clinic were surveyed about perceptions of COVID-19 vaccines, intentions to vaccinate their child, and trusted sources of information.
A total of 113 parents/guardians participated, with 92% self-identifying with a historically marginalized racial/ethnic group. A total of 54% of respondents either did not plan to vaccinate their child against COVID-19 or were unsure. The obstacles to vaccination most frequently cited were related to (1) unknown side effects, (2) the rapid development of the vaccine, and (3) unsafe ingredients. Worries about being used as experimental subjects and potential impacts on fertility were also reported. Parents who planned to vaccinate their child reported higher rates of trust in doctors, local clinics, hospitals, and health departments.
High rates of COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy exist among parents/guardians from historically marginalized groups. Barriers to vaccination were frequently related to side effects, whereas a high level of trust in healthcare providers as sources of information may be a facilitator. Strategies to improve health outcomes and boost vaccination rates should focus on equipping pediatric healthcare providers with the knowledge and skills necessary to address these known barriers to COVID-19 vaccination.
未接种疫苗的儿童感染新冠病毒后的住院率是接种疫苗儿童的两倍，且这种差异在少数族裔儿童中更为明显。儿童的疫苗接种率仍未达到最佳水平。很少有研究描述历史上被边缘化社区在新冠病毒疫苗接种方面面临的障碍。
2022年1月至2022年5月，对一家医院初级保健诊所中前来接受儿科护理的12个月至18岁儿童的父母和监护人进行了调查，了解他们对新冠病毒疫苗的看法、给孩子接种疫苗的意愿以及可靠的信息来源。
共有113名父母/监护人参与调查，其中92%自我认定为历史上被边缘化的种族/族裔群体。共有54%的受访者要么不打算让孩子接种新冠病毒疫苗，要么不确定。最常被提及的疫苗接种障碍与以下方面有关：（1）未知的副作用，（2）疫苗的快速研发，以及（3）不安全的成分。也有报告称担心被用作实验对象以及对生育的潜在影响。计划给孩子接种疫苗的父母对医生、当地诊所、医院和卫生部门的信任度更高。
历史上被边缘化群体的父母/监护人对新冠病毒疫苗接种的犹豫率很高。疫苗接种障碍通常与副作用有关，而对医疗保健提供者作为信息来源的高度信任可能是一个促进因素。改善健康结果和提高疫苗接种率的策略应侧重于使儿科医疗保健提供者具备应对这些已知的新冠病毒疫苗接种障碍所需的知识和技能。
