Relationship between parental acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine and attitudes towards measles vaccination for children: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to decreased measles vaccination rates globally, exacerbating vaccine hesitancy. This study examines the relationship between COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and childhood measles vaccination among parents in Hong Kong.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Hong Kong from March to September 2022. Parents were recruited via the Qualtrics panel, and a total of 588 parents were invited via email or social media account to participate in the survey. We used the adjusted Measles-containing Vaccine Hesitancy Scale for the assessment of parental vaccine hesitancy for children. A multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to examine the association between parental acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine and their attitudes towards childhood measles vaccination.

Results: Of the 588 participants, parents who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 exhibited significantly less measles-containing vaccine hesitancy comparing to those unvaccinated (β = -2.96, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -5.10 to -0.83, p = 0.007). Mothers exhibited more hesitancy compared to fathers (β = 1.64, 95% CI: 0.60 to 2.68, p = 0.002). Parents with a higher self-rated health (β = -2.20, 95% CI: -3.21 to -1.20, p < 0.001), or who have received advice from health professionals to offer measles, influenza, or COVID-19 vaccines for kids (β = -2.41, 95% CI: -3.49 to -1.32, p < 0.001) had lower levels of hesitancy.

Conclusion: COVID-19 vaccine status of parents was associated with reduced hesitancy towards measles vaccines for their children. Addressing vaccine hesitancy effectively requires targeted communication strategies, particularly focusing on those unvaccinated and leveraging the influence of healthcare professionals.

Keywords: COVID-19; Hong Kong; Measles; Vaccine hesitancy.