Researcher(s)
- Alicia Davies, Biological Sciences, Delaware State University
Faculty Mentor(s)
- Sangetta Das Bhattacharya, Primary Care & Pediatrics, Christiana Care
Abstract
Background: As routine childhood vaccinations are recommended, clinicians have observed increasing parental vaccine hesitancy, particularly for the influenza vaccine. Influenza is an illness that spreads easily and can cause serious health problems, especially in young children.
Objective: To identify the most common reasons parents hesitate or refuse to have their children receive the influenza vaccine.
Methods: Four pediatricians and a few medical assistants at the Wilmington Pediatric Clinic were interviewed about the concerns and explanations they commonly hear from parents who decline the influenza vaccine for their children. Their responses were reviewed to identify recurring reasons for parental hesitancy.
Results: Clinicians reported that parents commonly declined the influenza vaccine because they believed it could cause influenza, questioned its effectiveness, were concerned about potential side effects, or did not consider influenza a serious illness. Some parents also felt that the vaccine was unnecessary because their child had never previously had influenza. These responses suggest that both misinformation and personal experiences influence parents’ vaccination decisions.
Conclusion: Parental influenza vaccine hesitancy appears to be strongly influenced by misconceptions, safety concerns, and underestimation of influenza severity. More factual, clear, and accessible information from healthcare professionals may help hesitant parents make more informed vaccination decisions for their children. Patient-centered conversations may also help hesitant parents better understand influenza risks.