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. 2024 Feb 25.
doi: 10.1007/s10900-024-01340-x. Online ahead of print.

Social Processes and COVID-19 Vaccination of Children of Hesitant Mothers

Don E Willis  1 , Rachel S Purvis  2 , Ramey Moore  2 , Ji Li  3 , James P Selig  3 , Tabasum Imran  4 , Stacy Zimmerman  5 , Pearl A McElfish  2
Affiliations

Social Processes and COVID-19 Vaccination of Children of Hesitant Mothers

Don E Willis et al. J Community Health. .

Abstract

Objective: Investigate relationships between pediatric COVID-19 vaccination and social processes of healthcare provider recommendations and school encouragement to provide insights into social processes that may support pediatric COVID-19 vaccination among hesitant mothers.

Methods: We analyzed survey data from a subsample (n = 509) of vaccine-hesitant mothers to child patients (ages 2 to 17) in regional clinics across Arkansas. Data were collected between September 16th and December 6th, 2022. Full information maximum likelihood multivariable logistic regression was conducted to evaluate associations with pediatric COVID-19 vaccination.

Results: Adjusted odds of pediatric COVID-19 vaccination were more than three times greater when a child's healthcare provider recommended vaccination compared to when they did not (aOR = 3.52; 95% CI[2.06, 6.01]). Adjusted odds of pediatric COVID-19 vaccination were 85% greater when a child's school encouraged parents to vaccinate compared to when the school did not (aOR = 1.85; 95% CI[1.13, 3.03]).

Conclusions: For pediatric COVID-19 vaccination, having a personal healthcare provider is not significantly different from having no personal healthcare provider if they do not recommend the child be vaccinated.

Practice implications: Clinical and public health interventions should consider social processes of healthcare provider recommendations and school encouragement.

Keywords: COVID-19 vaccine; Pediatric vaccination; Provider recommendations; School; Vaccine hesitancy.

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