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Parental perceptions about influenza vaccine inhibit uptake
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The way in which the childhood influenza vaccine is perceived has a strong connection with uptake, intended uptake and opinion of side effects, according to a recent study published in Vaccine.
“Although acute symptoms are common following many vaccinations, their causes are not always straightforward,” Louise E. Smith, PhD, and colleagues wrote. “While some may be directly attributable to vaccination, others may reflect pre-existing or coincidental symptoms that are misattributed to the vaccine, while still others may occur due to a ‘nocebo’ effect triggered by a self-fulfilling expectation of symptoms. Expectations may be caused by seeing someone else experience symptoms after vaccination or through exposure to information suggesting that side effects are common.”
To determine predictors of uptake, parental perception of vaccine side effects, and whether parents intended to vaccinate their children for the upcoming 2016-2017 influenza season, the researchers examined data from a cross-sectional parent survey (n = 1,001) completed shortly after the end of the 2015-2016 influenza season.
The responses of surveyed parents, with children between the ages of 2 and 7 years, included reported uptake of the childhood influenza vaccine in that season, opinions on side effects and the chances of vaccinating their children for the 2016-2107 season.
Among all parental survey responses, only 52.8% reported that their children received the influenza vaccine for the 2015-2016 season. Those who chose to vaccinate reported that their children had previously received the influenza vaccination, believed that the vaccine is safe and effective and thought that their children were more susceptible to influenza. For those who chose not to vaccinate, they reported negative associations between the vaccine and safety and believed that they created short-term side effects or long-term health problems.
The researchers noted that parents who reported not vaccinating their children against influenza also reported the opinion that too many vaccines can overload the immune system; these parents reported being less likely to vaccinate in the 2016-2017 influenza season.
According to survey results, side effects were more likely to be reported among first-born children by parents who were aware of another child who had experienced side-effects, those who had children taking other medications and worried about potential interactions, and who believed that the vaccine directly causes short-term side effects.
“To improve uptake, messages to parents should be targeted as perceptions that are both amenable to change and strongly associated with lack of uptake or side effect reporting, in particular those surrounding possible future adverse events that may occur as a result of the vaccine,” Smith and colleagues wrote. “Communications should also emphasize that the vaccine is safe and effective while highlighting that children are susceptible to and are at risk of developing complications from influenza. In addition, all health care providers should be encouraged to provide strong vaccine recommendations; data indicate that almost half of participants disagreed that a health professional had recommended vaccination.” —by Katherine Bortz
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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