Adults’ acceptance of covid-19 vaccine for children in selected lower-and middle-income countries

• Main Authors: Suzanna Awang Bono, Ching Sin Siau, Won Sun Chen, Wah Yun Low, Edlaine Faria de Moura Villela, Supa Pengpid, M. Tasdik Hasan, Philippe Sessou, John D. Ditekemena, Bob Omoda Amodan, Mina C. Hosseinipour, Housseini Dolo, Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo, Robert Colebunders
• Other Authors: Universite de Kinshasa
• Format: Article
• Published: 2022
• Subjects: Immunology and Microbiology; Medicine; Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics
• Online Access: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/74197
• Institution: Mahidol University

Since emergency approval of COVID-19 vaccines for children aged between 12 and 15 years old was recently obtained in the United States and Europe, we aimed to assess the willingness to vaccinate children with a COVID-19 vaccine in lower-and middle-income countries (LMICs). Therefore, we launched an online cross-sectional survey in several LMICs. Questions relating to socio-demographic information, knowledge of COVID-19, level of fear/worry of being infected with COVID-19, and willingness to vaccinate children with the COVID-19 vaccine at 50%, 75% and 95% effectiveness levels, were asked. Of the 6571 participants (mean age = 39 ± 14 years), 64.0%, 72.6%, and 92.9% were willing to vaccinate children at 50%, 75%, and 95% effectiveness levels, respectively. Respondents who were undergraduates, who were more worried/fearful about COVID-19, had higher knowledge scores regarding COVID-19, and a higher belief that COVID-19 vaccination is important to protect others, were more willing to accept COVID-19 vaccination of children. COVID-19 vaccination of children will limit the spread of the virus, especially in schools; it may decrease the need for school closures which has a negative effect on child development. Findings from this study are useful for health promotion strategies during COVID-19 vaccination implementation among children in LMICs.