Preparing for A COVID-19 Vaccine: A Mixed Methods Study of Vaccine Hesitant Parents

Abstract

This study investigated vaccine acceptance of putative COVID-19 vaccines among a national sample of vaccine hesitant parents. Vaccine hesitancy and politicization of vaccine development has led to a pronounced distrust of COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S. A total of 1,381 vaccine-hesitant parents participated in this study. Participants indicated a general unwillingness to vaccinate their children (M = 3.55, SD = 2.13) and themselves (M = 3.58, SD = 2.16) when a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available. More educated parents were more likely to plan to vaccinate themselves [F(5, 533) = 9.93, p < .05] and their children [F(5, 533) = 10.278, p < .05]. Understanding vaccine hesitant parents offers crucial insights as a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available for the general public and as we wait for a vaccine to be approved for pediatric use.

Acknowledgments

The researchers would like to acknowledge funding from the Department of Biology and the collaborative efforts of the Women’s Health Research Team at the College of Charleston.

Competing Interests

Authors declare no competing interests.

Data And Materials Availability

Data will be made available upon request.