Abstract
As of July 2022, under 50% of Canadian children aged 5-11 years old have completed their primary series of the COVID-19 vaccines. Parents cite concerns regarding the safety, effectiveness, and necessity of the vaccines as reasons to not vaccinate their young children. However, the Government of Canada recommends this preventative health action be taken to reduce population level transmission and allow for the resumption of social and physical activities for children. The ECHO Project at the University of Montreal seeks to understand the determinants of COVID-19 vaccination in adolescents and parents of 5–11-year-olds in Montreal neighbourhoods with low vaccination rates. Based on these research findings, it then aims to implement local solutions in collaboration with community researchers to boost vaccine confidence.
This practicum project prospectively and qualitatively analysed 16 interviews of parents of unvaccinated 5–11-year-olds in Montreal in NVIVO 12 to identify common themes regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, determinants of vaccination and vaccine restrictions in Quebec. Findings indicate that parents differed in their decision-making process for vaccinating themselves versus their young children. Most parents got vaccinated to comply with vaccine restrictions but opted to not vaccinate their children due to health concerns regarding the safety and necessity of the vaccines. These concerns did not apply to other vaccines and were reported in relation to the novelty of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. The vaccination status of children was also correlated with maternal acceptance. Interviewees reported inconsistent and contradictory messaging between health authorities, such as the government and healthcare professionals, as further contributors to their hesitancy.
The results of this practicum project were used to generate a research manuscript for publication and to create a presentation for the ECHO Project team and for conferences. The results will also be included in the larger manuscript on the ECHO Project research findings, which would be used to inform public policy. Finally, the results were used by the community researchers in the Parc-Extension neighbourhood to create monthly mothers’ meetings, where in parents seek support when making decisions and ask guest experts questions on health topics.