Malaysian parents' willingness to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 infection and their perception of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines

Wong, Li-Ping and Lee, Hai-Yen and Alias, Haridah and AbuBakar, Sazaly (2022) Malaysian parents' willingness to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 infection and their perception of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccines, 10 (11). ISSN 2076-393X, DOI https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines10111790.

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Abstract

Little was known about Malaysian parental attitudes, beliefs, and intentions surrounding coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines for children when the National COVID-19 Immunization Program for Children (PICKids) was launched in February 2021. A cross-sectional online survey-based study was carried out from 15 March 2022 to 23 July 2022 on Malaysian parents/guardians of children between ages 5 and below 12 years old. A total of 15.7% reported being extremely willing, and 38.9% were somewhat willing to vaccinate children with a COVID-19 vaccine. Perceived low susceptibility to COVID-19 infection showed the greatest significant impact on vaccine acceptance (OR 35.46, 95% CI 15.26-82.40). Parents with a lower level of concern have a higher willingness for vaccination (OR 1.25, 95% CI 0.90-1.75). Of the parents that knew of the mRNA vaccine, 46.6% reported that they prefer their children to be vaccinated with conventional vaccines over mRNA vaccines. Poor knowledge about mRNA vaccines, lack of confidence in the mRNA technology, fear of unknown side effects, and perception that the mRNA vaccines contain microchips were significantly associated with a higher level of concern about their children receiving an mRNA vaccine. Public education campaigns to promote COVID-19 vaccination for children warrant addressing the concerns and knowledge deficits among vaccine-hesitant parents.

Item Type: Article
Funders: Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia for the niche area research under the Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICOE) program MO002-2019
Uncontrolled Keywords: Childhood vaccination; COVID-19 vaccine; mRNA vaccine; Parent attitude; Vaccine hesitancy
Subjects: R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
R Medicine > RM Therapeutics. Pharmacology
Divisions: Faculty of Medicine > Social & Preventive Medicine
Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research & Innovation) Office > Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre
Depositing User: Ms. Juhaida Abd Rahim
Date Deposited: 15 Oct 2023 14:03
Last Modified: 15 Oct 2023 14:03
URI: http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/40764

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