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Adolescent COVID-19 Vaccine Decision-Making among Parents in Southern California

Author

Listed:
  • Suellen Hopfer

    (Department of Health, Society & Behavior, Program in Public Health, School of Population and Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA)

  • Emilia J. Fields

    (Department of Health, Society & Behavior, Program in Public Health, School of Population and Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA)

  • Magdalen Ramirez

    (Department of Health, Society & Behavior, Program in Public Health, School of Population and Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA)

  • Sorina Neang Long

    (Department of Health, Society & Behavior, Program in Public Health, School of Population and Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA)

  • Heather C. Huszti

    (Pediatric Psychology, Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), Orange, CA 92686, USA)

  • Adrijana Gombosev

    (Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA)

  • Bernadette Boden-Albala

    (Department of Health, Society & Behavior, Program in Public Health, School of Population and Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
    Department of Epidemiology and Biostatics, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
    Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA)

  • Dara H. Sorkin

    (Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
    Department of Medicine, Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA)

  • Dan M. Cooper

    (Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
    Department of Pediatrics, Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA)

Abstract

Adolescent COVID-19 vaccination has stalled at 53% in the United States. Vaccinating adolescents remains critical to preventing the continued transmission of COVID-19, the emergence of variants, and rare but serious disease in children, and it is the best preventive measure available to return to in-person schooling. We investigated parent–adolescent COVID-19 vaccine decision-making. Between 24 February and 15 March 2021, we conducted surveys and 12 focus groups with 46 parent–adolescent dyads in Southern California. Parents and adolescents completed a survey prior to participation in a focus group discussion, which focused on exploring COVID-19 vaccine acceptance or uncertainty and was guided by the 5C vaccine hesitancy model. Parents uncertain about vaccinating adolescents expressed low vaccine confidence and high COVID-19 disease risk complacency. Parents who accepted COVID-19 vaccination for adolescents expressed high confidence in health authority vaccine recommendations, high perceived COVID-19 risk, and collective responsibility to vaccinate children. Additionally, unique pandemic-related factors of vaccine acceptance included vaccinating for emotional health, resuming social activities, and vaccine mandates. Among parents, 46% were willing to vaccinate their adolescent, 11% were not, and 43% were unsure. Among adolescents, 63% were willing to vaccinate. Despite vaccine availability, 47% of adolescents remain unvaccinated against COVID-19. Factors associated with vaccine uncertainty and acceptability inform health care practitioner, school, community, and public health messaging to reach parents and adolescents.

Suggested Citation

  • Suellen Hopfer & Emilia J. Fields & Magdalen Ramirez & Sorina Neang Long & Heather C. Huszti & Adrijana Gombosev & Bernadette Boden-Albala & Dara H. Sorkin & Dan M. Cooper, 2022. "Adolescent COVID-19 Vaccine Decision-Making among Parents in Southern California," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-20, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:7:p:4212-:d:785221
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Christie Aschwanden, 2021. "Five reasons why COVID herd immunity is probably impossible," Nature, Nature, vol. 591(7851), pages 520-522, March.
    2. Latkin, Carl A. & Dayton, Lauren & Yi, Grace & Konstantopoulos, Arianna & Boodram, Basmattee, 2021. "Trust in a COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S.: A social-ecological perspective," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
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