Parents acceptance, experience and beliefs to vaccinate their children with COVID-19 vaccine in a sample at Al-Imamain Al-Kadhimain Medical city in Iraq 2023

Abstract

Background: The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) declared the COVID-19 pandemic as the worst crisis for children in its 75-year history. For children under 18, parents are typically the primary decision-makers regarding their children's vaccination. This study aimed to investigate parents' acceptability of vaccinating their children with the COVID-19 vaccine, explore their beliefs about the vaccine, and assess their experiences with COVID-19 and its vaccine. The study also examined the relationship between socio-demographic factors and parents' acceptance of vaccination. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted at AL-Imamain Al-Kadhimain Medical City from February to July 2023. The study involved parents with children under 18 years who agreed to participate. The questionnaire covered socio-demographic details, experiences with COVID-19 and the vaccine, and beliefs about COVID-19 vaccines. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 29. Results: The results showed that 45% of parents were willing to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. The main reasons for vaccine hesitancy included concerns about safety (41.5%) and potential adverse effects (30.3%). Parental acceptance of the vaccine was significantly associated with higher education (p = 0.012), being divorced (p = 0.004), having received the COVID-19 vaccine (p = 0.005), and having undergone a COVID-19 test (p = 0.01). Conclusion: There was a moderate level of parental acceptability of COVID-19 vaccination for children. Acceptance was significantly linked to factors such as education, parental vaccination status, and COVID-19 testing experience.