Evaluating Families’ Opinions of Routine Influenza Vaccination in Children Under 5 Years of Age in Spain
Background/Objectives: Influenza vaccination is the main method for preventing influenza. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the opinions of families on influenza vaccination and to determine the acceptance of influenza vaccination as a routine vaccine in children under 5 years of age. Met...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| author | Sílvia Burgaya-Subirana Anna Ruiz-Comellas Queralt Miró Catalina Mònica Balaguer |
| author_facet | Sílvia Burgaya-Subirana Anna Ruiz-Comellas Queralt Miró Catalina Mònica Balaguer |
| author_sort | Sílvia Burgaya-Subirana |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background/Objectives: Influenza vaccination is the main method for preventing influenza. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the opinions of families on influenza vaccination and to determine the acceptance of influenza vaccination as a routine vaccine in children under 5 years of age. Methods: The method used was a descriptive cross-sectional study based on an ad-hoc survey. Between October 2023 and January 2024, an online survey was conducted among families with children between 6 months and 14 years of age attending paediatric consultations at a health centre. Results: A total of 388 families were surveyed. Out of these, 22.68% reported having ever vaccinated their children against influenza. The main reason for having them vaccinated was having received the recommendation from the paediatrician (68.18%). While 53.61% agreed with routine influenza vaccination, 53.09% did not intend to vaccinate their children against influenza in the 2023/24 period. The reasons for not vaccinating in 2023/24 were unawareness of the disease (29.41%), fear of unwanted effects of vaccination (27.94%) and lack of information about vaccination (19.61%). The reasons for vaccination in 2023/24 were protection of the child (81.87%), recommendation by the paediatrician (43.41%) and protection of the general population and susceptible persons (20.33%). Conclusions: Routine influenza vaccination is accepted by half of the parents. A lack of risk perception of the disease, concern about vaccine safety and lack of information are the main reasons for not vaccinating. It is essential to follow the health professionals’ recommendation to vaccinate. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4c349fd5a55d4f53a9cebee0739822c1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-393X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Vaccines |
| spelling | doaj-art-4c349fd5a55d4f53a9cebee0739822c12025-01-24T13:51:47ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2025-01-011315410.3390/vaccines13010054Evaluating Families’ Opinions of Routine Influenza Vaccination in Children Under 5 Years of Age in SpainSílvia Burgaya-Subirana0Anna Ruiz-Comellas1Queralt Miró Catalina2Mònica Balaguer3Department of Paediatrics, Equip d’Atenció Primària de Manlleu, Institut Català de la Salut, Gerència d’Atenció Primària i a la Comunitat de la Catalunya Central, C/Castellot 17, 08560 Manlleu, SpainFaculty of Medicine, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC), 08500 Vic, SpainUnitat de Suport a la Recerca de la Catalunya Central, Fundació Institut Universitari per a la Recerca a l’Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina, 08272 Sant Fruitós de Bages, SpainFaculty of Medicine, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC), 08500 Vic, SpainBackground/Objectives: Influenza vaccination is the main method for preventing influenza. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the opinions of families on influenza vaccination and to determine the acceptance of influenza vaccination as a routine vaccine in children under 5 years of age. Methods: The method used was a descriptive cross-sectional study based on an ad-hoc survey. Between October 2023 and January 2024, an online survey was conducted among families with children between 6 months and 14 years of age attending paediatric consultations at a health centre. Results: A total of 388 families were surveyed. Out of these, 22.68% reported having ever vaccinated their children against influenza. The main reason for having them vaccinated was having received the recommendation from the paediatrician (68.18%). While 53.61% agreed with routine influenza vaccination, 53.09% did not intend to vaccinate their children against influenza in the 2023/24 period. The reasons for not vaccinating in 2023/24 were unawareness of the disease (29.41%), fear of unwanted effects of vaccination (27.94%) and lack of information about vaccination (19.61%). The reasons for vaccination in 2023/24 were protection of the child (81.87%), recommendation by the paediatrician (43.41%) and protection of the general population and susceptible persons (20.33%). Conclusions: Routine influenza vaccination is accepted by half of the parents. A lack of risk perception of the disease, concern about vaccine safety and lack of information are the main reasons for not vaccinating. It is essential to follow the health professionals’ recommendation to vaccinate.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/1/54influenzainfluenza vaccinationvaccine hesitancyknowledgeattitudeopinion |
| spellingShingle | Sílvia Burgaya-Subirana Anna Ruiz-Comellas Queralt Miró Catalina Mònica Balaguer Evaluating Families’ Opinions of Routine Influenza Vaccination in Children Under 5 Years of Age in Spain Vaccines influenza influenza vaccination vaccine hesitancy knowledge attitude opinion |
| title | Evaluating Families’ Opinions of Routine Influenza Vaccination in Children Under 5 Years of Age in Spain |
| title_full | Evaluating Families’ Opinions of Routine Influenza Vaccination in Children Under 5 Years of Age in Spain |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating Families’ Opinions of Routine Influenza Vaccination in Children Under 5 Years of Age in Spain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating Families’ Opinions of Routine Influenza Vaccination in Children Under 5 Years of Age in Spain |
| title_short | Evaluating Families’ Opinions of Routine Influenza Vaccination in Children Under 5 Years of Age in Spain |
| title_sort | evaluating families opinions of routine influenza vaccination in children under 5 years of age in spain |
| topic | influenza influenza vaccination vaccine hesitancy knowledge attitude opinion |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/1/54 |
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