Vaccine Uptake to Prevent Meningitis and Encephalitis in Shanghai, China

Abstract

Multiple vaccines may prevent meningitis and encephalitis (M/E). In China, the meningococcal vaccine and Japanese encephalitis vaccine (JEV) have been included in the expanded program of immunization (EPI). The pneumococcal vaccine, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine, rotavirus vaccine, and enterovirus 71 (EV-71) vaccine are non-EPI vaccines and are self-paid. We aim to investigate the uptake of these M/E vaccines in children and the related knowledge and health beliefs among family caregivers. A total of 1011 family caregivers with children aged 1–6 years in Shanghai, China were included in the study. The uptake of the pneumococcal vaccine, Hib-containing vaccine, rotavirus vaccine, and EV-71 vaccine remained at 44.0–48.1% in children, compared with the higher uptake of the meningococcal vaccine (88.8%) and JEV (87.1%). Moreover, family caregivers had limited knowledge on the M/E pathogens and possible vaccines. Their health beliefs were moderate to high. Then, a health belief model (HBM) and a structural equation model were established. The uptake of four non-EPI vaccines was significantly influenced by family income (β = 0.159), knowledge (β = 0.354), self-efficacy (β = 0.584), and perceived susceptibility (β = 0.212) within an HBM. Therefore, it warrants further improving the uptake rate for these non-EPI vaccines to prevent potential M/E in children. A specific health promotion may empower the caregivers’ decision-making on childhood vaccination.

Parental willingness to pay and preference for human papillomavirus vaccine for girls aged 9-14 in subsidy scenarios in Shanghai, China

“… 26 , 34 Similarly, higher parental acceptance was observed for self-paid meningitis and encephalitis-related vaccines and influenza vaccines than for free vaccines in China. 35 , 36 Therefore, further study is necessary to assess the impact of other factors on vaccine decisions in addition to payment. For example, parental history of HPV infection and knowledge about HPV and HPV vaccine played significant roles.…”