‘Complex’ COVID-19 child vaccination decision for parents, study finds

To vaccinate or not to vaccinate against COVID-19? It has been a difficult and polarizing decision for parents in Canada during the coronavirus pandemic.

A study published Tuesday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) sheds light on parents’ concerns and what they consider when deciding whether or not to have their children vaccinated against COVID-19.

“The experiences of parents making decisions about SARS-CoV-2 vaccination for their children were complex, even for those who favored SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations,” the study said.

Researchers from the University of Toronto interviewed 20 parents in Ontario’s Greater Toronto Area (GTA) between February and April 2022.

They found that there were four main factors that parents looked at for their children aged 5 to 18: the novelty of COVID-19 vaccines, politicization, social pressure, and individual versus group benefits.

“Vaccine decision-making is actually complex at the best of times, and then with a new vaccine like this, it’s just a lot more complex,” said study co-author Dr Janet Parsons and researcher at St. Michael’s Hospital, which is part of Unity Health Toronto.

Parsons said parents have an added responsibility when making medical decisions that are as important for their children as they are for themselves, which is why they need reassurance.

“It was not a decision they took lightly. They thought very, very carefully about the decision to have their children vaccinated,” she told Global News.

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Children as young as six months can receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Canada. But vaccination coverage is still low for the youngest population.

Nearly 5% of children aged 0-4 have completed their first round of COVID-19 vaccines, while just over 40% of those aged 5-11 have done so , according to the most recent data from Health Canada, as of January 29.

Concerns about the novelty of COVID-19 vaccines — which were developed in record time — are likely why some parents have taken a “wait and see” approach to vaccinating their children, Parsons said.

“It’s so new, it’s a little scary and… a little guinea pig,” said one parent quoted in the study.

Another said he would feel more comfortable once the vaccine was longer and studied in more people.

Finding reliable evidence or sources of information about the shootings was also a challenge, according to the parents interviewed, Parsons said.

“It was hard for people to… sift through everything they heard,” she added.

Politics was another concern, with many parents saying the COVID-19 vaccine guidelines appeared to support political agendas rather than being backed by science, the survey found.

“I am very uncomfortable with politicians who sell vaccines on TV or on social media… Maybe if the government had stayed out of it, we might have [gotten vaccinated]“said a parent.

Meanwhile, others said they trusted public health advice and government involvement in the vaccination campaign.

Amid a deluge of evolving information and research, the majority of parents surveyed turned to their healthcare provider to unpack the vaccine evidence and help inform their decision-making, Parsons said.

Families have also faced social pressure to have their children vaccinated for fear of being labeled “anti-vax”, according to the research.

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Since the start of the pandemic, children have been the least affected by COVID-19, but they are not immune.

Most children and young people who get COVID-19 have mild or no symptoms, but some require hospitalization or experience longer-term effects, according to Health Canada.

“Vaccines help reduce the risk of your child becoming seriously ill from COVID-19,” the agency states on its website.

Parents weighed the collective benefits to the population, such as protecting others, herd immunity and limiting the spread, against the individual benefits when considering COVID-19 vaccination for their children, according to the CMAJ study.

After lockdowns and strict restrictions, a “big motivator for many parents” to choose to have their children vaccinated was the social aspect so they could return to normal activities, Parsons said.

For parents still on the fence about COVID-19 vaccines, she encouraged them to speak to their primary care providers, saying it’s okay to ask questions and have concerns.

The study noted that future COVID-19 messages should focus on both the individual and collective benefits of vaccines for children and that health care providers should be prioritized in giving this information to families.