By Amy Orciari Herman
NEJM Journal Watch
Parents are far more likely to be hesitant about the influenza vaccine than about routine childhood vaccinations, a Pediatrics study finds.
Some 2000 parents answered an online survey about their attitudes toward vaccinating their child. Some 26% reported hesitancy about the influenza vaccine, versus just 6% about routine vaccinations. Hesitancy about the flu vaccine seemed largely driven by concerns over its effectiveness, whereas hesitancy about routine vaccines seemed driven by side-effect concerns.
Vaccine hesitancy was associated with vaccine refusal or deferral. For example, for the influenza vaccine, 70% of hesitant parents had deferred or refused the vaccine for their child (vs. 10% of nonhesitant parents). Findings were similar for routine vaccinations.
Commentators say the messaging to parents about the flu vaccine needs to be improved. They write: “Communications should be focused on the burden of influenza in children, rebranding influenza vaccine as a ‘routine’ childhood immunization, reassurance on influenza vaccine safety, and discussion of the efficacy of influenza vaccine in preventing severe disease.”