Plans to Vaccinate Children Against COVID-19 Among Families Experiencing Homelessness and Other Families in Seattle, WA, October 2020-May 2021
Ogokeh, C. E.; Zureick, K.; Rogers, J. H.; Cox, S. N.; Link, A. C.; Emanuels, A.; Englund, J.; Hughes, J. P.; Uyeki, T. M.; Chu, H. Y.; Mosites, E.; Rolfes, M. A.
Show abstract
BackgroundCOVID-19 vaccine hesitancy remains a public health issue despite the fact that vaccines are readily available and recommended for all persons aged [≥]5 years in the United States. We aimed to describe parents plan to vaccinate their children in two different populations: families in a prospective, longitudinal cohort study and families experiencing homelessness enrolled in cross-sectional surveillance for acute respiratory infections. MethodsParticipants were parents/guardians of children aged <18 years, recruited either from a serial cross-sectional homeless study in Seattle-King County, Washington or from a household cohort study in the Seattle Metropolitan area. Participants were surveyed during October 2020--May 2021 about their plans to vaccinate their child against COVID-19. Vaccine plans were described by study population as well as by sociodemographic features and over time. ResultsAmong parents of 640 children enrolled in the household study surveyed in October 2021, 66% reported planning to vaccinate their child vaccinated against COVID-19 once vaccines became available. This proportion increased slightly over the study period, to 75% in May 2021. In the homeless study, 1284 surveys were collected from parents of 338 children. The proportion of parents of families experiencing homelessness who planned to have their child vaccinated against COVID-19 ranged from 52% in November 2020 to 16% in March 2021. ConclusionCOVID-19 vaccine plan among parents of children experiencing homelessness in Seattle-King County decreased over time, with the majority of parents reporting that they did not plan or were undecided about COVID-19 vaccination for their children by May 2021. Further investigations are needed among families experiencing homelessness to assess vaccine attitudes and perceived barriers to getting their children vaccinated against COVID-19. SummaryPlans to get vaccinated against COVID-19 was less common in children experiencing homelessness and intent decreased over time during the study, whereas vaccination was acceptable in other families in Seattle, WA
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