AUTHOR=Hoshen Moshe , Shkalim Zemer Vered , Ashkenazi Shai , Grossman Zachi , Gerstein Maya , Yosef Noga , Cohen Moriya , Cohen Herman Avner 

TITLE=How to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake among children? determinants associated with vaccine compliance

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pediatrics

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2022

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2022.1038308

DOI=10.3389/fped.2022.1038308

ISSN=2296-2360

ABSTRACT=Objective: To elucidate determinants associated with COVID-19 vaccine uptake in children and the association with parental vaccination. 

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of all children aged 5-11 years registered at a central district in Israel from November 21st, 2021 to April 30th, 2022, and characterized COVID-19 vaccinated versus unvaccinated individuals. Data retrieved from the electronic medical files included: demographics (age, gender, sector, socioeconomic status [SES]); COVID-19 vaccination (first and second doses) and influenza vaccination status; co-morbidities; and parental vaccinations for COVID-19.   

Results: Of the 61,776 children included in the study, 20,355 (32.9%) were vaccinated for COVID-19. The COVID-19 vaccination rate was similar amongst males and females and was higher in children aged 9-11 years compared to children aged 5-6 years. Multivariate analysis identified five independent determinants that were significantly (p<0.001) associated with low vaccination rates: Arab and ultra-orthodox sectors (odds ratios: 0.235 and 0.617, respectively); children aged 5-8 years; children of low SES; and children who had not received previous seasonal influenza vaccination. The highest uptake of two vaccine doses was among children with the following medical conditions: type 1 diabetes mellitus (84%), heart failure (83.3%), treatment with biological agents (75%), asthma (74.6%), and obesity (71.7%). 

Conclusion: This study highlights several pediatric sub-populations with low and high vaccine uptake. It is essential to focus on determinants associated with low vaccination rates.