Vaccines

1 in 7 parents have not talked about vaccines with their child’s regular provider in the past two years. Among parents who discussed vaccines with their child’s regular doctor, 4 in 5 say the doctor was open to their questions and concerns. 1 in 4 parents describe problems getting vaccines for their child in the past two years.

3 in 4 parents say the recommendation of their child’s healthcare provider will be important to their COVID vaccine decision. A doctor’s office is the most preferred vaccination location for parents of children who have not received a COVID vaccine. Fewer lower-income than higher-income parents say they are likely to have their child get a COVID vaccine.

Only 1 in 3 parents believe it is more important for their child to get flu vaccine this year compared to previous years, despite public health recommendations. Among parents who will not seek flu vaccine for their child this year, 1 in 7 say they are keeping their child away from health care sites due to concerns about COVID. Less than half of parents say their child's regular health care provider strongly recommends flu vaccination this year.

7 in 10 parents say their child’s primary care office should have a policy to prevent completely unvaccinated children from infecting other patients. 4 in 10 parents say their child's primary care office has a policy requiring that children get all recommended vaccines; about the same number of parents are unsure of the office policy. 4 in 10 parents are very or somewhat likely to move their child to a different provider if there are children in the practice whose parents refuse all vaccines.

Provider recommendation is linked to high flu vaccine rates, but 1 in 5 parents said their child’s provider did not make a recommendation. Parents of children not getting flu vaccine this year reported 7 times more negative sources than positive sources about flu vaccine. Comments from family, friends, and other parents were the most common sources prompting parents to question or not want flu vaccine for their child.

Most parents think their teen has received all recommended vaccines, despite national data suggesting otherwise. Over one third of parents do not know when or if their teen is due for another vaccine. Parents expect child health providers to guide them on teen vaccines, by scheduling appointments or sending reminders.

One-third of parents say flu vaccine is less important for their child than other vaccines. Negative beliefs about flu vaccine safety and efficacy are more prevalent among parents of children who do not get flu vaccine. One-third of parents of non-vaccinated children say the doctor recommended flu vaccine less strongly than other vaccines.

34% of parents think vaccines have more benefit than they did one year ago. 25% of parents believe vaccines are safer than they were one year ago. 35% of parents report more support for daycare and school vaccine requirements than one year ago.
 

Three-quarters of parents think daycare providers should check vaccination records every year. Two-thirds of parents think they should be informed of the number of children at the daycare center who are not up-to date on vaccines. 41% of parents support a policy to exclude undervaccinated kids from daycare until they become up-to-date.

72% of adults agree that parents have the right to insist that visitors receive the pertussis vaccine before visiting a newborn baby in the hospital. 61% of adults agree that parents should make sure all adults receive the pertussis vaccine before visiting a newborn baby at home.