Park Chulwoo, Zabala Pyramida Vagoyan
Department of Public Health and Recreation, San José State University, San Jose, CA 95192, United States.
Vaccine X. 2024 Nov 7;21:100582. doi: 10.1016/j.jvacx.2024.100582. eCollection 2024 Dec.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children aged 6 months-5 years (children under 5) receive multiple doses of COVID-19 vaccine, including updated (bivalent) COVID-19 vaccine. However, since the updated vaccines became available for children under 5, there has been limited knowledge regarding hesitancy toward the original vaccine or boosters in vaccinating children. To address this gap, this study utilized data from the Household Pulse Survey conducted from March 1, 2023 to May 8, 2023 (Phase 3.8). The purpose of the study was to examine the proportion of children under 5 who had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and to assess the likelihood of vaccination, categorized as willingness to vaccinate, moderate hesitancy, and strong hesitancy. Additionally, we identified sociodemographic factors that may influence the level of vaccine hesitancy for children. Overall, 24.5 % (95 % CI: 22.2-26.8) of children under 5 had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, with the highest percentage among non-Hispanic Asians (42.1 %, 95 % CI: 36.4-47.8). Respondents who had not received the vaccine showed a statistically significant decrease in their inclination to vaccinate children. There was a higher level of vaccine hesitancy among females compared to males regarding vaccinating children under 5. As household income and educational attainment decreased, there was an observed increase in the proportion of individuals showing strong vaccine hesitancy. Households without health insurance had significantly lower vaccine uptake and higher rates of strong vaccine hesitancy compared to those with health insurance. Parents, guardians, and healthcare providers play essential roles in vaccinating children under 5. Targeted interventions are needed to address vaccine hesitancy and promote the importance of booster doses in the vaccination of children.
美国疾病控制与预防中心建议6个月至5岁的儿童（5岁以下儿童）接种多剂新冠疫苗，包括最新的（二价）新冠疫苗。然而，自从5岁以下儿童可以接种最新疫苗以来，对于为儿童接种原始疫苗或加强针的犹豫态度方面的了解有限。为了填补这一空白，本研究利用了2023年3月1日至2023年5月8日进行的家庭脉搏调查（第3.8阶段）的数据。该研究的目的是检查5岁以下已接种至少一剂新冠疫苗的儿童比例，并评估接种疫苗的可能性，分为愿意接种、中度犹豫和强烈犹豫。此外，我们确定了可能影响儿童疫苗犹豫程度的社会人口因素。总体而言，24.5%（95%置信区间：22.2 - 26.8）的5岁以下儿童已接种至少一剂新冠疫苗，非西班牙裔亚裔中的比例最高（42.1%，95%置信区间：36.4 - 47.8）。未接种疫苗的受访者为儿童接种疫苗的意愿在统计学上显著降低。在为5岁以下儿童接种疫苗方面，女性的疫苗犹豫程度高于男性。随着家庭收入和教育程度的降低，表现出强烈疫苗犹豫的个体比例有所增加。与有医疗保险的家庭相比，没有医疗保险的家庭疫苗接种率显著更低，强烈疫苗犹豫率更高。父母、监护人及医疗服务提供者在为5岁以下儿童接种疫苗方面发挥着重要作用。需要采取有针对性的干预措施来解决疫苗犹豫问题，并宣传加强针在儿童疫苗接种中的重要性。
