China has initiated the COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 15–17 years since late July 2020. This study aimed to determine the association between adult vaccine hesitancy and parental acceptance of childhood COVID-19 vaccines in a multi-ethnicity area of northwestern China. A web-based investigation was performed with a convenience sampling strategy to recruit the parents aged 20–49 years. In a total of 13,451 valid respondents, 66.1% had received the COVID-19 vaccination, 26.6% were intent to receive, while 7.3% were not intent, with an increasing vaccine hesitancy (p < 0.001). Moreover, vaccination uptake of four common vaccines in their children remained low (29.0% for influenza vaccine, 17.9% for pneumonia vaccine, 10.9% for rotavirus vaccine, 8.0% for Enterovirus-71 vaccine), while overall parental acceptance of childhood COVID-19 vaccines was 50.0% (32.7% for those aged 0–5, 46.6% for 6–10, 73.3% for 11–18; p < 0.001). Vaccination uptake of these four vaccines and parental acceptance of childhood COVID-19 vaccine were negatively associated with adult vaccine hesitancy. In addition, respondents mostly preferred childhood COVID-19 vaccines with weak mild common adverse events (β = 1.993) and no severe adverse events (β = 1.731), demonstrating a positive association with adult vaccine hesitancy. Thus, it warrants specific countermeasures to reduce adult vaccine hesitancy and improve strategies for childhood vaccination.

(1) Background: It is important to improve vaccination strategies and immunization programs to achieve herd immunity to infectious diseases. (2) Methods: To assess the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination, we conducted face-to-face surveys and online surveys in Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Qinghai provinces. A fixed-effect model and a random effects model were used to analyze factors associated with the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination. (3) Findings: We initially recruited 3173 participants, 3172 participants completed the full questionnaire (the response rate was nearly 100%), of which 2169 were valid questionnaires, with an effective rate of 87.3%. The results indicated that 82.6% of participants were willing to receive vaccination when it was available in the community, and 57.2% of deliverymen, 43.3% of medical workers, 78.2% of parents of primary and secondary school children, and 72.2% of parents of preschool children were willing to receive vaccination. The models showed that participants who were male (female vs. male: OR = 1.49, 95% CI (1.12, 1.98)), 60 to 69 years-old (60–69 vs. <30: OR = 0.52, 95% CI (0.29, 0.92)), had less education (medium vs. low: OR = 1.50, 95% CI (1.05, 2.23)), had good health status (good vs. low: OR = 0.36, 95% CI (0.15, 0.88)), and had positive attitudes and trust (OR = 0.14, 95% CI (0.10, 0.20)) in vaccines approved by the National Health Commission were more likely to accept vaccination. Participants also had an increased vaccination acceptance if it was recommended by government sources, doctors, relatives, or friends. Most participants learned about COVID-19 vaccination from television, radio, and newspapers, followed by community or hospital campaigns and the internet. (4) Conclusions: Government sources and doctors could increase the acceptance of vaccination by promoting the efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccination by the use of mass media and emphasizing the necessity of vaccination for everyone.

Background It is important to improve vaccination strategies and immunization programs to achieve herd immunity to infectious diseases, particularly in general community-dwelling populations. Methods To assess the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination, we conducted face-to-face surveys and online surveys in Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Qinghai province. A fixed effects model and a random effects model were used to analyze factors associated with acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination. Findings The results indicated that 82·6% of participants (77·0% in Shanghai and 87·3% in Zhejiang) were willing to receive vaccination when it was available in the community, and 57·2% of deliverymen, 43·3% of medical workers, 78·2% of parents of primary and secondary school children, and 72·2% of parents of preschool children were willing to receive vaccination. The models showed that participants who were male, 60 to 69 years-old, from rural areas, had less education, had good health status, and had positive attitudes and trust in vaccines approved by National Health Commission were more likely to accept vaccination. Participants also had increased vaccination acceptance if it was recommended by government sources, doctors, relatives, or friends. Most participants learned about COVID-19 vaccination from television, radio, and newspapers, followed by community or hospital campaigns and the internet. Those who did not want to receive vaccination were mainly concerned about safety (288, 59·6%) and efficacy (196, 40·6%). Conclusions Government sources and doctors could increase acceptance of vaccination by promoting the efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccination by use of mass media and emphasizing the necessity of vaccination for everyone.

Haemophilus influenzae is a common commensal organism of the human upper respiratory tract and an important cause of human disease. No data on H influenzae carriage rate has been carried out on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau of China. This study aims to present the H influenzae carriage rate and influencing factors of H influenzae in healthy children <15 years of age in Qinghai Province, an area located on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China. Oropharyngeal swabs for the detection of H influenzae DNA were collected between September and October 2019. Taqman real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the nucleic acids from the oropharyngeal swabs. Self-designed questionnaires were used to investigate the related information among this group of children. A number of 284 children were enrolled in this study. The carriage rate of H influenzae was 44.7%. The carriage rate in cities was 47.5%, in rural areas was 21.9%, and in pastoral areas was 52.8%. The carriage rate was found to be higher among children of minority ethnic groups than those of Han ethnicity (55.6% vs 38.1%). H influenzae carriage rate was influenced by tobacco smoke exposure (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.31, 95% CI [confidence interval]: 1.14-4.70), having siblings <5 years of age (aOR = 2.36, 95% CI: 1.21-4.59), respiratory infections during the last 30 days (aOR = 2.37, 95% CI: 1.11-5.06), and parent/guardian education level (aOR = 0.08, 95% CI: 0.02-0.27). H influenzae was highly prevalent in healthy children in Qinghai Province, especially among children of minority ethnicities and those living in pastoral areas. Tobacco smoke exposure, having siblings <5 years of age, and respiratory infections during the last 30 days were risk factors for H influenzae carriage. Parents or guardians having education levels of college or higher was a protective factor for H influenzae carriage. It is of critical importance that the government take effective measures to reduce the carriage rate and the occurrence of H influenzae related diseases in susceptible populations.

Background: In 2016, Qinghai Province and the Asian Liver Center of Stanford University in the United States cooperated to carry out a one-year project of hepatitis B mother-to-child blockade and post-immunization serological test in our province. Through this study, we evaluated the current situation of hepatitis B maternal and infant blockade and the effect of maternal and infant blockade in multi-ethnic areas of Qinghai Province. Methods: From May 1, 2016 to April 30, 2017, all pregnant women who gave birth in Qinghai Province were screened for HBsAg. For pregnant women who were screened for HBsAg positive, the medical staff had a detailed understanding of the history and treatment of hepatitis B, and provided scientific nutritional support and guidance. Free hepatitis B immunoglobulin (100 units) injections were given to newborns born to HBsAg-positive mothers within 12 hours after birth, and three doses of hepatitis B vaccination were given. All newborns born to HBsAg-positive mothers were followed up from 1 to 3 months after complete immunization of HBIG and HepB. The County (district) CDC was responsible for rapid fingertip blood screening, screening for HBsAg-positive children, collecting 3ml of venous blood for quantitative detection of HBsAg.Results: During the study period, 61381 pregnant women were hospitalized, 6027 (97.79% ) pregnant women were screened for HBsAg. 1912 pregnant women were detected positive for HBsAg, with a positive rate of 3.19%. The HepB vaccine rate was 97.11% in live infants within 24 hours. The vaccination rate of hepatitis B vaccine was 94.78% and the injection rate of HBIG was 97.15% in 12-hour live delivery children of HBsAg positive mothers. A total of 864 newborns born to HBsAg positive mothers were followed up. Fast fingertip blood test was performed 1-3 months after HBIG injection and whole course hepatitis B vaccination. The positive rate of HBsAg was 5.21%. 34 positive serum samples were detected by chemiluminescent immunoassay in the laboratory of provincial CDC. The coincidence rate of HBsAg positive was 82.35%, and that of HBV DNA positive was 79.41%. Fifty-seven children with HBV surface antibody negative were detected and vaccinated with HBV vaccine free of charge in the whole course according to the national immunization program. Conclusion: The infection rate of hepatitis B among women of childbearing age in Qinghai province is 3.19%, and the blocking rate of mother and infant is 94.79%. It is still necessary to strengthen the injection of hepatitis B vaccine and HBIG for positive mothers and children. Keyword: Hepatitis B, Mother to child blocking, Evaluation of the effect Corresponding Author. have equal contributions to this article. Author SummaryThis study revealed for the first time the infection rate of hepatitis B virus among women of childbearing age of different nationalities in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau through screening of pregnant women in hospital, blocking of mother and infant, and following-up of serum test after immunization. To evaluate the combine...