Children from the most socioeconomically deprived backgrounds are more likely than others to say they do not want to have the COVID-19 vaccine, researchers report today.
A school-based survey of students from nine to 18 years old – who are in years 5 to 13 – found that 36% of nine-year-old pupils said they were willing to have the COVID-19 vaccine, compared to 51% of 13 year olds and 78% of 17 year olds.
However, the researchers, from the University of Oxford, UCL and the University of Cambridge, also found in their OxWell School Survey 2021 that those who were less willing to be vaccinated also often come from the most socioeconomically deprived backgrounds, feel less like they belong to their school community and believe they probably have had COVID-19.
The study included more than 27,000 students from 180 schools across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Merseyside and is the only large-scale study to ask children and adolescents about their willingness to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Writing in EClinical Medicine, the authors say their research highlights a need for more resources to help young people feel confident and encouraged to take the vaccine, should it be made available and offered to them.
They add that it is important for information to be provided to those communities and individuals who are not naturally connected with their schools, as well as making sure that the vaccination can be offered in a variety of different locations to improve access.
Fear greatest among youngest
The team adds that some young people may prefer to have the vaccination without letting others around them know about their choice to get vaccinated.
Associate Professor Mina Fazel, of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Oxford, said: “Our survey findings show that children become more willing to have the COVID-19 vaccine as they get older. Younger children more often defer to their parents, or primary caregivers, for decisions about healthcare and vaccination, but our data shows how important it is for good quality, accessible information to be provided to better enable our younger populations to understand more about the COVID-19 vaccine and its effects.”
The researchers say as COVID-19 vaccination programmes are rolled out to school-age students, more resources are needed to ensure they feel the vaccine is safe.
It is also important that health messaging about vaccine safety and its effects on children is targeted to both school-aged children and their parents/carers and must be delivered and provided in a format, and in locations, where most people will see it.
Health messaging should be shared by trusted sources on social media, as survey findings show that the young people who are most hesitant about having the vaccine use social media more.
Dr Simon R White, senior research associate at the University of Cambridge, said: “Our data shows that there are similarities with adult populations in that those from more deprived socioeconomic backgrounds are more hesitant to have the vaccine.
Storybook hero called in
“Therefore, targeting parents and caregivers with information and materials, which specifically address the worries they might have for their children, is important.”
Professor Russell Viner from UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, added: “Our findings suggest it will be essential to reach out and engage with young people from poorer families and communities with lower levels of trust in vaccination and the health system.
“A school-based vaccination program, as planned in England, is one way of helping reduce these health disparities. However, the teenagers who are least engaged with their school communities may need additional support for us to achieve the highest uptake levels.”
* The World Health Organization has launched a global campaign to help children understand the pandemic, using WHO’s own inhouse “hero”.
Its new children’s book, My Hero is You 2021: how kids can hope with COVID-19!, has been produced in Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, English, French, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Swahili.
A prequel to the story is now available in 140 languages.
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