Parents’ willingness and attitudes concerning the COVID‐19 vaccine: A cross‐sectional study

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate the parents' willingness and attitudes concerning the COVID-19 vaccine. METHOD: This cross-sectional study was performed using a self-administered online survey, covering parents' and their children's characteristics, parents' willingness and attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccine. A total of 1035 parents participated. RESULTS: Analysis showed that 36.3% of parents were willing to have their children receive the COVID-19 vaccine and that 59.9% were willing to receive it themselves. In addition, 83.9% were willing to have their children vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine if the mortality rates associated with COVID-19 in children increased following a mutation. After adjusting for significant variables, willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine (AOR = 24.91; 95% CI = 10.93-56.76), willingness for their children to participate in a COVID-19 vaccine trial (AOR = 11​.87; 95% CI = 2.41-58.40] and advising others to receive the COVID-19 vaccine AOR = 7.82; 95% CI = 2.50-24.49 were associated with greater parents' willingness for their children to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. CONCLUSIONS: Parents' willingness for their children to receive the COVID-19 vaccine was low. The only characteristics of either parents or children found to affect the parents' willingness for children to receive the COVID-19 vaccine was the parents being healthcare workers. Parents' willingness and positive attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccine are factors that increase acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine for their children.