Ýmir Óskarsson1, Þórólfur Guðnason2, Guðbjörg A Jónsdóttir3, Karl G Kristinsson4, Haraldur Briem2, Ásgeir Haraldsson5. 1. University of Iceland, Faculty of Medicine, Reykjavik, Iceland. 2. University of Iceland, Faculty of Medicine, Reykjavik, Iceland; Directorate of Health-Chief Epidemiologist, Reykjavik, Iceland. 3. The Social Science Research Institute-University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland. 4. University of Iceland, Faculty of Medicine, Reykjavik, Iceland; Department of Microbiology-Landspítali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland. 5. University of Iceland, Faculty of Medicine, Reykjavik, Iceland; Children's Hospital Iceland-Landspítali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland. Electronic address: asgeir@lsh.is.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: In recent years, vaccine preventable diseases such as measles and pertussis have been re-emerging in Western countries, maybe because of decreasing participation in childhood vaccination programs in some countries. There is clear evidence for vaccine efficacy and the risk of adverse effects is low. This needs to be communicated to the general public. The aim of the study was to evaluate the public opinion on childhood vaccinations in Iceland. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An internet based study was used to evaluate the opinion on childhood immunisations in Iceland. The cohort was divided in three groups: (a) general public (b) employees of the University Hospital Iceland and (c) employees (teachers and staff) of the University of Iceland. The cohorts could be stratified according to age, gender, education, household income, parenthood and residency. RESULTS: Responses were received from 5584 individuals (53% response rate). When asked about childhood vaccinations in the first and second year of life, approximately 95% of participants were "positive" or "very positive", approximately 1% were "negative" or "very negative". When participants were asked whether they would have their child immunized according to the Icelandic childhood vaccination schedule, 96% were "positive" or "very positive", 1.2% were "negative" or "very negative". Similarly, 92% trust Icelandic Health authorities to decide on childhood vaccination schedule, 2.3% did not. In total, 9.3% "rather" or "strongly" agreed to the statement "I fear that vaccinations can cause severe adverse effects", 17.5% were undecided and 66.9% "disagreed" or "strongly disagreed". Individuals with higher education were more likely to disagree with this statement (OR=1.45, CI95=1.29-1.64, p<0.001) as did males (OR=1.22, CI95=1.087-1.379, p=0.001). CONCLUSION: This study shows a very positive attitude towards vaccinations raising expectations for an ongoing success in preventing preventable communicable diseases in childhood in Iceland.
INTRODUCTION: In recent years, vaccine preventable diseases such as measles and pertussis have been re-emerging in Western countries, maybe because of decreasing participation in childhood vaccination programs in some countries. There is clear evidence for vaccine efficacy and the risk of adverse effects is low. This needs to be communicated to the general public. The aim of the study was to evaluate the public opinion on childhood vaccinations in Iceland. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An internet based study was used to evaluate the opinion on childhood immunisations in Iceland. The cohort was divided in three groups: (a) general public (b) employees of the University Hospital Iceland and (c) employees (teachers and staff) of the University of Iceland. The cohorts could be stratified according to age, gender, education, household income, parenthood and residency. RESULTS: Responses were received from 5584 individuals (53% response rate). When asked about childhood vaccinations in the first and second year of life, approximately 95% of participants were "positive" or "very positive", approximately 1% were "negative" or "very negative". When participants were asked whether they would have their child immunized according to the Icelandic childhood vaccination schedule, 96% were "positive" or "very positive", 1.2% were "negative" or "very negative". Similarly, 92% trust Icelandic Health authorities to decide on childhood vaccination schedule, 2.3% did not. In total, 9.3% "rather" or "strongly" agreed to the statement "I fear that vaccinations can cause severe adverse effects", 17.5% were undecided and 66.9% "disagreed" or "strongly disagreed". Individuals with higher education were more likely to disagree with this statement (OR=1.45, CI95=1.29-1.64, p<0.001) as did males (OR=1.22, CI95=1.087-1.379, p=0.001). CONCLUSION: This study shows a very positive attitude towards vaccinations raising expectations for an ongoing success in preventing preventable communicable diseases in childhood in Iceland.
Authors: Sigríður J Quirk; Gunnsteinn Haraldsson; Helga Erlendsdóttir; Martha Á Hjálmarsdóttir; Andries J van Tonder; Birgir Hrafnkelsson; Samuel Sigurdsson; Stephen D Bentley; Ásgeir Haraldsson; Angela B Brueggemann; Karl G Kristinsson Journal: J Clin Microbiol Date: 2018-11-27 Impact factor: 5.948