Parent Opinions About Universal Influenza Vaccination for Infants and Toddlers

Abstract

Knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and educational levels each had an independent influence on parents' intentions to vaccinate the child, whereas demographic factors other than education did not.

Parental views on vaccine safety and future vaccinations of children who experienced an adverse event following routine or seasonal influenza vaccination in 2010

“…It may also reflect response to the widely publicised safety signal. The low level of support for influenza vaccination expressed by parents in our study is in contrast with an Australian study conducted in 2006, of 169 mothers, conducted prior to the STIV program suspension, in that only six percent of all respondents were opposed to influenza vaccination 5 and an American study 6 in which 78% of parents intended to vaccinate their children against influenza. It is likely that the negative views regarding influenza vaccination expressed by the NIP vaccine parents were influenced by awareness of the STIV program suspension, as noted during interviews with parents.…”

“…The reports were submitted by 89 parents and 88 healthcare providers including: family physicians (42), nurses (27), the Parent Helpline, a South Australian parent telephone information service funded by the Women's and Children's Health Network, (13) and hospitals (6). Two reports were notified by both a parent and a healthcare provider.…”

Influenza Among Healthy Young Children: Changes in Parental Attitudes and Predictors of Immunization During the 2003 to 2004 Influenza Season

“…Issues that may be particularly relevant to influenza immunization among healthy young children include a lack of parental awareness of the severity of influenza in this age group, the number of other vaccinations scheduled for this group, and concerns about vaccine safety for developing children. 14 We found that, before the influenza season, parents held a number of misperceptions about influenza and generally were unaware of existing vaccination recommendations. Despite these considerations, the influenza immunization rate in this setting was high.…”

“…13 In the only study of parental attitudes focused exclusively on parents of 6-to 23-month-old children, a range of parental attitudes about influenza were examined but whether these attitudes were predictive of vaccination was not assessed. 14 Each of these studies was cross-sectional and therefore was not designed to assess changes in parental attitudes over time. [12][13][14] The 2003 to 2004 influenza season presented a unique opportunity to investigate the potentially changeable nature of parental attitudes about influenza.…”

“…14 Each of these studies was cross-sectional and therefore was not designed to assess changes in parental attitudes over time. [12][13][14] The 2003 to 2004 influenza season presented a unique opportunity to investigate the potentially changeable nature of parental attitudes about influenza. The 2003 to 2004 influenza season was atypical in several respects; influenza activity began and peaked earlier than usual, 15,16 might have been associated with increased pediatric mortality rates, 6,17 and produced a great deal of media attention.…”