Affiliations: National Centre for Immunisation Research and
Surveillance, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, Australia | Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, Sydney
Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia | Sydney Emerging Infections and Biosecurity Institute,
Sydney, NSW, Australia | Academic Unit of Child Health, Queen Mary University
of London, London, UK
Note: [] Correspondence: Maria Yui Kwan Chow, National Centre for
Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS), The Children's Hospital at
Westmead, Cnr Hawkesbury Road and Hainsworth Street, Locked Bag 4001, Westmead
NSW 2145, Australia. Tel.: +61 2 9845 1232; Fax: +61 2 9845 1418; E-mail:
maria.chow@health.nsw.gov.au
Abstract: The annual incidence of laboratory-confirmed influenza is usually
between 2 to vaccinate their children. The aim of our study was to determine
parental intentions and behavior regarding influenza vaccination for their
children and to explore explanatory variables. We conducted a cross-sectional
survey in 16 child-care centers in Sydney, Australia, between November and
December 2009, just after the first wave of the 2009 influenza pandemic. Survey
packets were distributed at the child-care centers and e-mails were sent to
parents of children aged 6 months to 5 years, asking them to complete the
questionnaire either on paper or over the web. The questions addressed
knowledge, behavior, intentions and beliefs regarding seasonal influenza and
vaccination. We analyzed the data by descriptive statistics as well as using
both univariate and multivariate tests with logistic regression. We received 431 completed questionnaires (response rate: 44%). Vaccination was chosen by
59% of respondents as a method for preventing influenza. 21% of parents were
extremely or very concerned about the likelihood of their child contracting
influenza. During 2009, 12% of children were offered seasonal influenza vaccine
by a health-care professional, but only 8% received it. For the coming 2010
season, 22% of parents were planning to have their child vaccinated while 52%
were unsure about vaccinating. Nearly half (45%) were "unsure" whether
influenza vaccine is more of a risk for children than actually having
influenza. About 60% were unsure whether or not the vaccine should be
recommended for chronically ill children. The two strongest discouragers to
vaccination were a parental perception that the vaccine was new and the
requirement for annual vaccination. The strongest behavioral predictors for
vaccination in 2009 were the offer of vaccination by a health-care professional
(OR: 35.7, 95% CI: 13.2–90.9) and the perception that the vaccine is safe for
children aged 1–5 years (OR: 27.8, 95% CI: 3.6–200.0). Australian parents had limited knowledge about seasonal influenza vaccine, with almost half unsure
about its safety for children. Health-care professionals are pivotal to
promoting vaccination uptake, as parents considered them the most reliable
source of information. Health-care professionals should be educated to provide
up-to-date, accurate information to parents.
Keywords: Influenza, vaccination, behavior, parents, children
