The Effect of Parental Vaccine Literacy Level and Attitudes on COVID-19 Vaccination Decisions for Children Aged 5-11 Years: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the decision of parents of children aged 5-11 years to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 and to investigate the relationship between this decision and their vaccine literacy and attitudes. Materials and Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional research design was implemented on 635 parents between April 2022 and December 2022. Data were collected using the COVID-19 Vaccine Literacy Scale, the Attitudes Towards the COVID-19 Vaccine Scale, and an Information Form. Results: A positive and significant relationship was found between the scores of the parents on the COVID-19 Vaccine Literacy Scale and the Attitudes Towards the COVID-19 Vaccine Scale. In the study, it was determined that the total score averages of the Attitudes Towards the COVID-19 Vaccine Scale were significantly higher for the parents who had had all childhood vaccinations for their children, who agreed to have their child vaccinated for the COVID-19 vaccine, who had had the COVID-19 vaccine themselves, and who stated that the vaccine should be mandatory for both adults and children. Conclusion: It was concluded that parents' willingness to vaccinate their children routinely and their level of vaccine literacy about the COVID-19 vaccine positively influenced their attitude and decisions towards vaccinating their children against COVID-19.