Jordan Zoe, Roderick Marion, Marlow Robin, Rowland Emma
Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care, King's College London, UK; University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
Vaccine. 2025 Aug 13;61:127322. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.127322. Epub 2025 Jun 11.
Chickenpox (varicella) contributes to a large number of hospitalisations in the United Kingdom (UK) where vaccination is not routine, and can result in serious complications. The varicella vaccine was recommended for inclusion in the UK routine immunisation schedule by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) in November 2023. A systematic review identified no previous qualitative studies investigating UK parents' views regarding chickenpox and vaccination.
To explore parents' views of chickenpox and varicella vaccination, and identify barriers and facilitators to this and other childhood vaccinations.
Underpinned by sequential mixed-methodology a quantitative cross-sectional online survey (n = 609), distributed via nurseries and social media, and qualitative semi-structured interviews (n = 12) with a sub-sample of survey respondents. Descriptive statistical analysis was undertaken on quantitative data. Qualitative data were interpreted by reflexive thematic analysis, according to the EQUATOR network standards for reporting qualitative research. Findings were analysed separately, and integrated equally using a triangulation protocol for validation or repudiation.
Integration demonstrated parents perceived chickenpox as a common, typically mild, childhood illness. Parents held few concerns, with most worries focussing on severe infection risk, and impact on time off school or work. Most would accept routine varicella vaccination, though had concerns about duration of immunity. Many questioned necessity of vaccination, and whether natural immunity was superior. Non-vaccinating parents hold distinct concerns relating to safety, vaccine contents, and their synthetic nature.
Whilst most parents are accepting of vaccination, they hold specific concerns related to varicella vaccination which may result in sub-optimal uptake for critical herd immunity. To achieve this it will be crucial to raise awareness of the potential risks of chickenpox, and address concerns identified. Many parents seek reliable vaccine information from healthcare professionals, and so appropriate education and training should be considered, including communicating risks and benefits of vaccination, which may be beneficial antenatally.
在英国，水痘在未进行常规疫苗接种的情况下导致大量住院病例，并且可能引发严重并发症。2023年11月，联合疫苗接种和免疫委员会（JCVI）建议将水痘疫苗纳入英国常规免疫计划。一项系统综述发现，此前没有定性研究调查英国父母对水痘和疫苗接种的看法。
探讨父母对水痘和水痘疫苗接种的看法，并确定这一疫苗接种以及其他儿童疫苗接种的障碍和促进因素。
采用序贯混合方法，通过托儿所和社交媒体开展了一项定量横断面在线调查（n = 609），并对部分调查受访者进行了定性半结构化访谈（n = 12）。对定量数据进行描述性统计分析。定性数据采用反思性主题分析进行解读，遵循赤道网络定性研究报告标准。分别对研究结果进行分析，并使用三角验证协议进行同等整合以验证或否定结果。
整合分析表明，父母认为水痘是一种常见的、通常症状较轻的儿童疾病。父母担忧较少，大多数担忧集中在严重感染风险以及对缺课或误工的影响上。大多数父母会接受常规水痘疫苗接种，不过对免疫持续时间有所担忧。许多人质疑疫苗接种的必要性，以及自然免疫是否更具优势。未接种疫苗的父母对安全性、疫苗成分及其合成性质有明显担忧。
虽然大多数父母接受疫苗接种，但他们对水痘疫苗接种有特定担忧，这可能导致关键群体免疫的接种率不理想。要实现群体免疫，提高对水痘潜在风险的认识并解决已发现的担忧至关重要。许多父母寻求医疗保健专业人员提供可靠的疫苗信息，因此应考虑进行适当的教育和培训，包括传达疫苗接种的风险和益处，这在产前进行可能会有帮助。
