COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy among Italian parents: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2023 Dec 31;19(1):2171185. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2023.2171185. Epub 2023 Jan 25.

Abstract

In May 2021, the Italian government extended the COVID-19 vaccination campaign to 12- to 18-year-old subjects and, starting December 2021, vaccines were also offered to children between 5 and 11 years-old. Despite these efforts, suboptimal vaccination coverages are reported. The purpose of this review is to estimate the proportion of parents/caregivers of children and adolescents expressing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Italy. The vaccine hesitation rate among parents of minors was 55.1% (95%CI: 43.8-66.1%). A higher value was evidenced in studies focusing on children (59.9%; 95%CI = 43.7-75.1%) compared to the ones focusing on adolescents (51.3%; 95%CI = 34.5-68.0%). The main reasons for unwillingness were the belief that the vaccine was unsafe or ineffective, fear of adverse events, and considering COVID-19 a non-threatening disease. The implementation of effective communication campaigns and health educational programs on safe pediatric vaccinations is essential to support strategies to bolster vaccination confidence.

Keywords: Caregivers; SARS-CoV-2; childhood; mandatory vaccination; vaccine compliance.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • COVID-19 Vaccines*
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Humans
  • Italy
  • Parents
  • Vaccination
  • Vaccination Hesitancy

Substances

  • COVID-19 Vaccines

Grants and funding

The author(s) reported that there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.