Students’ age and parental level of education influence COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy

authored by: Anna Zychlinsky Scharff, Mira Paulsen, Paula Schaefer, Fatma Tanisik, Rizky Indrameikha Sugianto, Nils Stanislawski, Holger Blume, Bernhard M.W. Schmidt, Stefanie Heiden, Meike Stiesch, Anette Melk
Abstract: Widespread vaccination in pursuit of herd immunity has been recognized as the most promising approach to ending the global pandemic of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). The vaccination of children and adolescents has been extensively debated and the first COVID-19 vaccine is now approved in European countries for children aged > 12 years of age. Our study investigates vaccination hesitancy in a cohort of German secondary school students. We assessed 903 students between age 9 and 20 in the period between 17 May 2021 and 30 June 2021. 68.3% (n = 617) reported intention to undergo COVID-19 vaccination, while 7% (n = 62) did not want to receive the vaccine and 15% (n = 135) were not yet certain. Age and parental level of education influenced COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Children under the age of 16 as well as students whose parents had lower education levels showed significantly higher vaccine hesitancy. Conclusion: Identifying subsets with higher vaccination hesitancy is important for targeting public information campaigns in support of immunization.What is Known:• The willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccination among adults in Europe is about 70%, but data for children and adolescents is lacking.• The lack of immunization in younger cohorts represents a significant barrier to achieving herd immunity, and also leaves children and adolescents vulnerable to acute and long-term morbidity from natural COVID-19 infections.What is New:• Intention-to-vaccinate among children and adolescents is high (~ 70%); conversely, vaccination hesitancy is low.• Age and parental level of education influenced COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among children and adolescents.
Organisation(s): Institute of Microelectronic Systems
Institute of Innovation Research, Technology Management & Entrepreneurship
External Organisation(s): Hannover Medical School (MHH)
Type: Article
Journal: European journal of pediatrics
Volume: 181
Pages: 1757-1762
No. of pages: 6
ISSN: 0340-6199
Publication date: 04.2022
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-021-04343-1 (Access: Open)

BibTeX

@article{18b214a6c7ef47d29e19d9336df2b821,
title = "Students{\textquoteright} age and parental level of education influence COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy",
abstract = "Widespread vaccination in pursuit of herd immunity has been recognized as the most promising approach to ending the global pandemic of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). The vaccination of children and adolescents has been extensively debated and the first COVID-19 vaccine is now approved in European countries for children aged > 12 years of age. Our study investigates vaccination hesitancy in a cohort of German secondary school students. We assessed 903 students between age 9 and 20 in the period between 17 May 2021 and 30 June 2021. 68.3% (n = 617) reported intention to undergo COVID-19 vaccination, while 7% (n = 62) did not want to receive the vaccine and 15% (n = 135) were not yet certain. Age and parental level of education influenced COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Children under the age of 16 as well as students whose parents had lower education levels showed significantly higher vaccine hesitancy. Conclusion: Identifying subsets with higher vaccination hesitancy is important for targeting public information campaigns in support of immunization.What is Known:• The willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccination among adults in Europe is about 70%, but data for children and adolescents is lacking.• The lack of immunization in younger cohorts represents a significant barrier to achieving herd immunity, and also leaves children and adolescents vulnerable to acute and long-term morbidity from natural COVID-19 infections.What is New:• Intention-to-vaccinate among children and adolescents is high (~ 70%); conversely, vaccination hesitancy is low.• Age and parental level of education influenced COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among children and adolescents.",
keywords = "Adolescents, Children, COVID-19, Vaccination, Vaccine hesitancy",
author = "{Zychlinsky Scharff}, Anna and Mira Paulsen and Paula Schaefer and Fatma Tanisik and Sugianto, {Rizky Indrameikha} and Nils Stanislawski and Holger Blume and Schmidt, {Bernhard M.W.} and Stefanie Heiden and Meike Stiesch and Anette Melk",
note = "Funding Information: Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL. The study, as part of the larger TRAC-19 study, is funded by the Ministry of Science and Culture of Lower Saxony, Germany, reference number 14-76103-184. The Ministry of Science and Culture had no role in the design and conduct of the study; data collection, management, analysis or interpretation; or writing of the report. ",
year = "2022",
month = apr,
doi = "10.1007/s00431-021-04343-1",
language = "English",
volume = "181",
pages = "1757--1762",
journal = "European journal of pediatrics",
issn = "0340-6199",
publisher = "Springer Verlag",
number = "4",
}