Vaccine Hesitancy: COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccine Willingness among Parents in Wuxi, China—A Cross-Sectional Study

• Main Authors: Qiang Wang, Shixin Xiu, Shuangyu Zhao, Jianli Wang, Ying Han, Shuheng Dong, Jinxin Huang, Tingting Cui, Liuqing Yang, Naiyang Shi, Minqi Liu, Yue Han, Xuwen Wang, Yuan Shen, Enpin Chen, Bing Lu, Hui Jin, Leesa Lin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-04-01
• Series: Vaccines
• Subjects: parents; vaccine hesitancy; COVID-19 vaccine; influenza vaccine; willingness
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/9/4/342

Objectives: We aimed to (1) assess parental hesitancy about category A (Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI)) and B (non-EPI) vaccines, (2) assess parental willingness for COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations, and (3) explore the association of vaccination hesitancy of parents and healthcare workers (HCWs). Methods: The study was performed in Wuxi, eastern China between 21 September 2020 and 17 October 2020. Parents of children aged <18 years and HCWs were recruited from the selected immunization clinics. Vaccine hesitancy was assessed using the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) vaccine hesitancy survey (VHS) by summing the total score for 10 items (maximum 50 points). Results: A total of 3009 parents and 86 HCWs were included in the analysis. The category A VHS scores were significantly higher than the category B VHS scores (<i>p </i>= 0.000). Overall, 59.3% and 52.4% of parents reported willingness to avail COVID-19 and influenza vaccination for their children, respectively; 51.2% of the HCWs wanted to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Parental category B VHS scores were associated with HCW category B VHS scores (<i>r </i>= 0.928, <i>p </i>= 0.008). Conclusions: In China, parents are more hesitant about category B vaccines than category A vaccines. More than 40% of parents showed hesitancy and a refusal to use COVID-19 and influenza vaccines.