Adolescent COVID-19 Vaccine Decision-Making among Parents in Southern California

Suellen Hopfer, Emilia J. Fields, Magdalen Ramirez, Sorina Neang Long, Heather C. Huszti, Adrijana Gombosev, Bernadette Boden-Albala, Dara H. Sorkin and Dan M. Cooper
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Suellen Hopfer: Department of Health, Society & Behavior, Program in Public Health, School of Population and Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Emilia J. Fields: Department of Health, Society & Behavior, Program in Public Health, School of Population and Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Magdalen Ramirez: Department of Health, Society & Behavior, Program in Public Health, School of Population and Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Sorina Neang Long: Department of Health, Society & Behavior, Program in Public Health, School of Population and Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Heather C. Huszti: Pediatric Psychology, Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), Orange, CA 92686, USA
Adrijana Gombosev: Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Bernadette Boden-Albala: Department of Health, Society & Behavior, Program in Public Health, School of Population and Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Dara H. Sorkin: Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Dan M. Cooper: Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 7, 1-20

Abstract: Adolescent COVID-19 vaccination has stalled at 53% in the United States. Vaccinating adolescents remains critical to preventing the continued transmission of COVID-19, the emergence of variants, and rare but serious disease in children, and it is the best preventive measure available to return to in-person schooling. We investigated parent–adolescent COVID-19 vaccine decision-making. Between 24 February and 15 March 2021, we conducted surveys and 12 focus groups with 46 parent–adolescent dyads in Southern California. Parents and adolescents completed a survey prior to participation in a focus group discussion, which focused on exploring COVID-19 vaccine acceptance or uncertainty and was guided by the 5C vaccine hesitancy model. Parents uncertain about vaccinating adolescents expressed low vaccine confidence and high COVID-19 disease risk complacency. Parents who accepted COVID-19 vaccination for adolescents expressed high confidence in health authority vaccine recommendations, high perceived COVID-19 risk, and collective responsibility to vaccinate children. Additionally, unique pandemic-related factors of vaccine acceptance included vaccinating for emotional health, resuming social activities, and vaccine mandates. Among parents, 46% were willing to vaccinate their adolescent, 11% were not, and 43% were unsure. Among adolescents, 63% were willing to vaccinate. Despite vaccine availability, 47% of adolescents remain unvaccinated against COVID-19. Factors associated with vaccine uncertainty and acceptability inform health care practitioner, school, community, and public health messaging to reach parents and adolescents.

Keywords: adolescent COVID-19 vaccination; parent vaccine decision-making; 5C vaccine hesitancy model; vaccine acceptance; vaccine confidence; public health vaccine communication (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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