Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer
##common.pageHeaderLogo.altText##

Original article

Vol. 153 No. 4 (2023)

Parental willingness to have children vaccinated against COVID-19 in Geneva, Switzerland: a cross-sectional population-based study

  • Hélène Baysson
  • Nick Pullen
  • Carlos de Mestral
  • Claire Semaani
  • Francesco Pennacchio
  • María-Eugenia Zaballa
  • Arnaud G. L’Huillier
  • Elsa Lorthe
  • Idris Guessous
  • Silvia Stringhini
  • the Specchio-COVID19 study group
DOI
https://doi.org/10.57187/smw.2023.40049
Cite this as:
Swiss Med Wkly. 2023;153:40049
Published
03.04.2023

Summary

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine factors associated with parental willingness to vaccinate their children against COVID-19.

METHODS: We surveyed adults included in a digital longitudinal cohort study composed of participants in previous SARS-CoV-2 serosurveys conducted in Geneva, Switzerland. In February 2022, an online questionnaire collected information on COVID-19 vaccination acceptance, parental willingness to vaccinate their children aged ≥5 years and reasons for vaccination preference. We used multivariable logistic regression to assess the demographic, socioeconomic and health-related factors associated with being vaccinated and with parental intention to vaccinate their children.

RESULTS: We included 1,383 participants (56.8% women; 69.3% aged 35–49 years). Parental willingness to vaccinate their children increased markedly with the child’s age: 84.0%, 60.9% and 21.2%, respectively, for parents of adolescents aged 16–17 years, 12–15 years and 5–12 years. For all child age groups, unvaccinated parents more frequently indicated not intending to vaccinate their children than vaccinated parents. Refusal to vaccine children was associated with having a secondary education (1.73; 1.18–2.47) relative to a tertiary education and with middle (1.75; 1.18–2.60) and low (1.96; 1.20–3.22) household income relative to high income. Refusal to vaccine their children was also associated with only having children aged 12–15 years (3.08; 1.61–5.91), aged 5–11 years (19.77; 10.27–38.05), or in multiple age groups (6.05; 3.22–11.37), relative to only having children aged 16–17 years.

CONCLUSION: Willingness to vaccinate children was high for parents of adolescents aged 16–17 years but decreased significantly with decreasing child age. Unvaccinated, socioeconomically disadvantaged parents and those with younger children were less likely to be willing to vaccinate their children. These results are important for vaccination programs and developing communication strategies to reach vaccine-hesitant groups, both in the context of COVID-19 and in the prevention of other diseases and future pandemics.

References

  1. Klein NP, Stockwell MS, Demarco M, Gaglani M, Kharbanda AB, Irving SA, et al. Effectiveness of COVID-19 Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccination in Preventing COVID-19-Associated Emergency Department and Urgent Care Encounters and Hospitalizations Among Nonimmunocompromised Children and Adolescents Aged 5-17 Years - VISION Network, 10 States, April 2021-January 2022. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2022 Mar;71(9):352–8. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7109e3 PMID:35239634 DOI: https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7109e3
  2. Dorabawila V, Hoefer D, Bauer UE, Bassett MT, Lutterloh E, Rosenberg ES. Effectiveness of the BNT162b2 vaccine among children 5-11 and 12-17 years in New York after the Emergence of the Omicron Variant. medRxiv. Published online January 1, 2022:2022.02.25.22271454. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.02.25.22271454. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.02.25.22271454
  3. Walter EB, Talaat KR, Sabharwal C, Gurtman A, Lockhart S, Paulsen GC, et al.; C4591007 Clinical Trial Group. Evaluation of the BNT162b2 Covid-19 Vaccine in Children 5 to 11 Years of Age. N Engl J Med. 2022 Jan;386(1):35–46. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2116298 PMID:34752019 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2116298
  4. Nordström P, Ballin M, Nordström A. Risk of infection, hospitalisation, and death up to 9 months after a second dose of COVID-19 vaccine: a retrospective, total population cohort study in Sweden. Lancet. 2022 Feb;399(10327):814–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(22)00089-7 PMID:35131043 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(22)00089-7
  5. General Health Directorate of Canton of Geneva. Vaccination in Geneva: numbers and campaign. ge.ch. Accessed July 1, 2022. https://www.ge.ch/en/node/23804
  6. Zimmermann P, Pittet LF, Finn A, Pollard AJ, Curtis N. Should children be vaccinated against COVID-19? Arch Dis Child. 2022 Mar;107(3):e1. https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2021-323040 PMID:34732388 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2021-323040
  7. Saxena S, Skirrow H, Wighton K. Should the UK vaccinate children and adolescents against covid-19? BMJ. 2021 Jul;374:n1866. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n1866 PMID:34301635 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n1866
  8. Galanis P, Vraka I, Siskou O, Konstantakopoulou O, Katsiroumpa A, Kaitelidou D. Willingness, refusal and influential factors of parents to vaccinate their children against the COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Prev Med. 2022 Apr;157:106994. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.106994 PMID:35183597 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.106994
  9. Wiedenmann M, Goutaki M, Keiser O, Stringhini S, Tanner M, Low N. The role of children and adolescents in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: a rapid review. Swiss Med Wkly. 2021 Sep;151(3738):w30058. https://doi.org/10.4414/SMW.2021.w30058 PMID:34546012 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4414/SMW.2021.w30058
  10. Feldstein LR, Rose EB, Horwitz SM, Collins JP, Newhams MM, Son MB, et al.; Overcoming COVID-19 Investigators; CDC COVID-19 Response Team. Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in U.S. Children and Adolescents. N Engl J Med. 2020 Jul;383(4):334–46. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2021680 PMID:32598831 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2021680
  11. Buonsenso D, Munblit D, De Rose C, et al. Preliminary evidence on long COVID in children. Acta Paediatr Oslo Nor 1992. 2021;110(7):2208-2211. https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.15870. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.15870
  12. Brackel CL, Lap CR, Buddingh EP, van Houten MA, van der Sande LJ, Langereis EJ, et al. Pediatric long-COVID: an overlooked phenomenon? Pediatr Pulmonol. 2021 Aug;56(8):2495–502. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppul.25521 PMID:34102037 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ppul.25521
  13. Asadi-Pooya AA, Nemati H, Shahisavandi M, Akbari A, Emami A, Lotfi M, et al. Long COVID in children and adolescents. World J Pediatr. 2021 Oct;17(5):495–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12519-021-00457-6 PMID:34478045 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12519-021-00457-6
  14. Colvin MK, Reesman J, Glen T. The impact of COVID-19 related educational disruption on children and adolescents: an interim data summary and commentary on ten considerations for neuropsychological practice. Clin Neuropsychol. 2022 Jan;36(1):45–71. https://doi.org/10.1080/13854046.2021.1970230 PMID:34495815 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13854046.2021.1970230
  15. Racine N, Cooke JE, Eirich R, Korczak DJ, McArthur B, Madigan S. Child and adolescent mental illness during COVID-19: A rapid review. Psychiatry Res. 2020 Oct;292:113307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113307 PMID:32707216 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113307
  16. Richard V, Dumont R, Lorthe E, Baysson H, Zaballa ME, Barbe RP, et al.; Specchio-COVID19 Group. COVID-19-Related School Disruptions and Well-Being of Children and Adolescents in Geneva. J Paediatr Child Health. 2022 May;58(5):937–9. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpc.15973 PMID:35411686 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jpc.15973
  17. Lv M, Luo X, Shen Q, Lei R, Liu X, Liu E, et al. Safety, Immunogenicity, and Efficacy of COVID-19 Vaccines in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review. Vaccines (Basel). 2021 Sep;9(10):1102. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9101102 PMID:34696210 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9101102
  18. Xu W, Tang J, Chen C, Wang C, Wen W, Cheng Y, et al. Safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine in children and/or adolescents:A meta-analysis. J Infect. 2022 May;84(5):722–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinf.2022.01.032 PMID:35108601 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinf.2022.01.032
  19. Zambrano LD, Newhams MM, Olson SM, Halasa NB, Price AM, Boom JA, et al.; Overcoming COVID-19 Investigators. Effectiveness of BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) mRNA Vaccination Against Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children Among Persons Aged 12-18 Years - United States, July-December 2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2022 Jan;71(2):52–8. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7102e1 PMID:35025852 DOI: https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7102e1
  20. Federal Office of Public Health. Who can get vaccinated against COVID-19? Accessed April 11, 2022. https://foph-coronavirus.ch/vaccination/when-can-i-be-vaccinated/
  21. Ozawa S, Stack ML. Public trust and vaccine acceptance—international perspectives. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2013 Aug;9(8):1774–8. https://doi.org/10.4161/hv.24961 PMID:23733039 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4161/hv.24961
  22. Streefland P, Chowdhury AM, Ramos-Jimenez P. Patterns of vaccination acceptance. Soc Sci Med. 1999 Dec;49(12):1705–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-9536(99)00239-7 PMID:10574240 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-9536(99)00239-7
  23. MacDonald NE, Butler R, Dubé E. Addressing barriers to vaccine acceptance: an overview. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2018 Jan;14(1):218–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2017.1394533 PMID:29048975 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2017.1394533
  24. Wisniak A, Baysson H, Pullen N, Nehme M, Pennacchio F, Zaballa ME, et al.; Specchio-COVID19 study group. COVID-19 vaccination acceptance in the canton of Geneva: a cross-sectional population-based study. Swiss Med Wkly. 2021 Dec;151(4950):w30080. https://doi.org/10.4414/SMW.2021.w30080 PMID:34908389 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4414/SMW.2021.w30080
  25. Nehme M, Baysson H, Pullen N, Wisniak A, Pennacchio F, Zaballa ME, et al.; Specchio-COVID19 study group. Perceptions of vaccination certificates among the general population in Geneva, Switzerland. Swiss Med Wkly. 2021 Nov;151(47):w30079. https://doi.org/10.4414/SMW.2021.w30079 PMID:34846113 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4414/SMW.2021.w30079
  26. Nehal KR, Steendam LM, Campos Ponce M, van der Hoeven M, Smit GS. Worldwide Vaccination Willingness for COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Vaccines (Basel). 2021 Sep;9(10):1071. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9101071 PMID:34696179 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9101071
  27. Baysson H, Pennachio F, Wisniak A, Zabella ME, Pullen N, Collombet P, et al.; Specchio-COVID19 study group. Specchio-COVID19 cohort study: a longitudinal follow-up of SARS-CoV-2 serosurvey participants in the canton of Geneva, Switzerland. BMJ Open. 2022 Jan;12(1):e055515. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055515 PMID:35105645 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055515
  28. Stringhini S, Wisniak A, Piumatti G, Azman AS, Lauer SA, Baysson H, et al. Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in Geneva, Switzerland (SEROCoV-POP): a population-based study. Lancet. 2020 Aug;396(10247):313–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31304-0 PMID:32534626 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31304-0
  29. Stringhini S, Zaballa ME, Perez-Saez J, Pullen N, de Mestral C, Picazio A, et al.; Specchio-COVID19 Study Group. Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies after the second pandemic peak. Lancet Infect Dis. 2021 May;21(5):600–1. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(21)00054-2 PMID:33539733 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(21)00054-2
  30. Stringhini S, Zaballa ME, Pullen N, Perez-Saez J, de Mestral C, Loizeau AJ, et al.; Specchio-COVID19 study group. Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies 6 months into the vaccination campaign in Geneva, Switzerland, 1 June to 7 July 2021. Euro Surveill. 2021 Oct;26(43):2100830. https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.43.2100830 PMID:34713799 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.43.2100830
  31. Baysson H, Pennacchio F, Wisniak A, et al. The Specchio-COVID19 study cohort: a web-based prospective study of SARS-CoV-2 serosurveys participants in the canton of Geneva (Switzerland). Submitted. Published online June 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.07.14.21260489
  32. Office Cantonal des Statistiques (OCSTAT). Statistiques cantonales - République et canton de Genève. Accessed September 8, 2021. https://www.ge.ch/statistique/
  33. Office Cantonal des Statistiques (OCSTAT). T 20.02.7.01 - Statistique cantonale du revenu et de la fortune des ménages - Quantiles du revenu annuel brut des ménages selon le type de ménage en 2015-2017 - Canton de Genève. Published online December 11, 2020.
  34. Wagner A, Liberatore F, Schmelzer S, Dratva J. Confident and altruistic - parents’ motives to vaccinate their children against COVID-19: a cross-sectional online survey in a Swiss vaccination centre. Swiss Med Wkly. 2022 Mar;152(11):w30156. https://doi.org/10.4414/SMW.2022.w30156 PMID:35315342 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4414/SMW.2022.w30156
  35. McKinnon B, Quach C, Dubé È, Tuong Nguyen C, Zinszer K. Social inequalities in COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and uptake for children and adolescents in Montreal, Canada. Vaccine. 2021 Dec;39(49):7140–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.10.077 PMID:34763947 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.10.077
  36. Rane MS, Robertson MM, Westmoreland DA, Teasdale CA, Grov C, Nash D. Intention to Vaccinate Children Against COVID-19 Among Vaccinated and Unvaccinated US Parents. JAMA Pediatr. 2022 Feb;176(2):201–3. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.5153 PMID:34870702 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.5153
  37. Rammohan A, Awofeso N, Fernandez RC. Paternal education status significantly influences infants’ measles vaccination uptake, independent of maternal education status. BMC Public Health. 2012 May;12(1):336. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-12-336 PMID:22568861 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-12-336
  38. Kempe A, Saville AW, Albertin C, Zimet G, Breck A, Helmkamp L, et al. Parental Hesitancy About Routine Childhood and Influenza Vaccinations: A National Survey. Pediatrics. 2020 Jul;146(1):e20193852. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2019-3852 PMID:32540985 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2019-3852
  39. Jafflin K, Deml MJ, Schwendener CL, Kiener L, Delfino A, Gafner R, et al. Parental and provider vaccine hesitancy and non-timely childhood vaccination in Switzerland. Vaccine. 2022 May;40(23):3193–202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.04.044 PMID:35487812 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.04.044
  40. Deml MJ, Buhl A, Huber BM, Burton-Jeangros C, Tarr PE. Trust, affect, and choice in parents’ vaccination decision-making and health-care provider selection in Switzerland. Sociol Health Illn. 2022 Jan;44(1):41–58. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9566.13388 PMID:34747500 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9566.13388
  41. Reinikainen J, Tolonen H, Borodulin K, Härkänen T, Jousilahti P, Karvanen J, et al. Participation rates by educational levels have diverged during 25 years in Finnish health examination surveys. Eur J Public Health. 2018 Apr;28(2):237–43. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckx151 PMID:29036286 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckx151

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 > >>