Bing Wang1, Lynne Giles2, Hossein Haji Ali Afzali3, Michelle Clarke4, Julie Ratcliffe5, Gang Chen6, Helen Marshall7. 1. The Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; Vaccinology and Immunology Research Trials Unit (VIRTU), Women's and Children's Hospital, South Australia, Australia. Electronic address: bing.wang@adelaide.edu.au. 2. School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. Electronic address: lynne.giles@adelaide.edu.au. 3. School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. Electronic address: hossein.hajialiafzali@adelaide.edu.au. 4. Vaccinology and Immunology Research Trials Unit (VIRTU), Women's and Children's Hospital, South Australia, Australia. Electronic address: michelle.clarke@adelaide.edu.au. 5. Flinders Health Economics Group, School of Medicine, Flinders University, South Australia, Australia. Electronic address: Julie.ratcliffe@health.sa.gov.au. 6. Centre for Health Economics, Monash Business School, Monash University, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: gang.chen@monash.edu. 7. The Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; Vaccinology and Immunology Research Trials Unit (VIRTU), Women's and Children's Hospital, South Australia, Australia. Electronic address: helen.marshall@adelaide.edu.au.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: There is limited knowledge of adolescent views and attitudes towards immunisation. Our study investigated adolescent attitudes to immunisation and compared differences in vaccination attitudes between adolescents and adults. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional, national online survey. Recruitment was stratified by state and gender to ensure findings were nationally representative. Regression analyses were performed to assess and compare adolescent and adult views on vaccine benefits, community protection, risks, side effects, sources of information, and decision-making preference. RESULTS: In 2013, 502 adolescents and 2003 adults completed the online survey. Lower levels of vaccine confidence were observed in adolescents with adolescents less likely to believe vaccines are beneficial and/or safe compared to adults (p=0.043). Compared to females, males were less confident of vaccine benefits (p<0.05) but less concern about vaccine side effects (p<0.05). Adolescents were more concerned about vaccine side effects than adults for pain (p<0.001), redness or swelling (p<0.001), and fever (p=0.006). Adolescents were less likely than adults to consider health professionals (p<0.001) and the media (e.g. internet) (p=0.010) as important sources of information, and were more likely to seek information from social networks (p<0.001) including families and schools. Although 62.0% of adolescents agreed that parents should make the decision about vaccination for them, adolescents were more likely to prefer a joint decision with parents (p<0.001) or by themselves (p=0.007) compared with adults. CONCLUSION: Adolescents have a lesser understanding of vaccine safety and benefits than adults and have higher concerns about potential vaccine reactions. Improving adolescent awareness and knowledge of the benefits and risks of vaccination through school-based educational programs may improve confidence in and uptake of vaccines for adolescents and increase vaccine confidence in the next generation of parents.
INTRODUCTION: There is limited knowledge of adolescent views and attitudes towards immunisation. Our study investigated adolescent attitudes to immunisation and compared differences in vaccination attitudes between adolescents and adults. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional, national online survey. Recruitment was stratified by state and gender to ensure findings were nationally representative. Regression analyses were performed to assess and compare adolescent and adult views on vaccine benefits, community protection, risks, side effects, sources of information, and decision-making preference. RESULTS: In 2013, 502 adolescents and 2003 adults completed the online survey. Lower levels of vaccine confidence were observed in adolescents with adolescents less likely to believe vaccines are beneficial and/or safe compared to adults (p=0.043). Compared to females, males were less confident of vaccine benefits (p<0.05) but less concern about vaccine side effects (p<0.05). Adolescents were more concerned about vaccine side effects than adults for pain (p<0.001), redness or swelling (p<0.001), and fever (p=0.006). Adolescents were less likely than adults to consider health professionals (p<0.001) and the media (e.g. internet) (p=0.010) as important sources of information, and were more likely to seek information from social networks (p<0.001) including families and schools. Although 62.0% of adolescents agreed that parents should make the decision about vaccination for them, adolescents were more likely to prefer a joint decision with parents (p<0.001) or by themselves (p=0.007) compared with adults. CONCLUSION: Adolescents have a lesser understanding of vaccine safety and benefits than adults and have higher concerns about potential vaccine reactions. Improving adolescent awareness and knowledge of the benefits and risks of vaccination through school-based educational programs may improve confidence in and uptake of vaccines for adolescents and increase vaccine confidence in the next generation of parents.
Authors: Victoria O Olarewaju; Kristen Jafflin; Michael J Deml; Nejla Gültekin; Franco Muggli; Susanna Schärli; Catherine Gruillot; Andrea Kloetzer; Benedikt M Huber; Sonja Merten; Philip E Tarr Journal: Hum Vaccin Immunother Date: 2021-11-09 Impact factor: 3.452
Authors: Laura Chinenye Ilogu; Olga Lugovska; Ivo Vojtek; Anna Prugnola; Andrea Callegaro; Sara Mazzilli; Pierre Van Damme Journal: Hum Vaccin Immunother Date: 2021-06-30 Impact factor: 3.452