Factors influencing childhood influenza immunization

More than 20%–30% of children are infected annually with influenza.1^,2 The Canadian National Advisory Committee on Immunization currently recommends annual immunization of all people 6 months of age or older who are at increased risk of influenza- related complications.3 Vaccination of healthy children is effective and decreases the spread of the disease in schools and the community.1^,2^,4^,5^,6^,7^,8^,9

During the 2000/01 influenza season, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care sponsored a universal program of publicly funded influenza immunization for all people in Ontario over the age of 6 months. We felt this was an opportunity to explore factors that influence parents in the decision to immunize their children against influenza.

Between January and March 2001, a convenience sample of parents of Ontario children presenting to the emergency department (ED) of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario were surveyed. After written consent was obtained, a piloted standardized survey was administered by study personnel. Open and closed questions in French or English identified demographic characteristics, parental knowledge of influenza illness and immunization, and factors influencing decisions on immunization. The parents of a parallel subset of all children 6 months of age and older presenting to the ED were surveyed for immunization status alone. Univariate comparisons were conducted using 𝛘² analysis, Fisher's exact test and risk ratio with a level of significance of α = 0.05. A logistic regression model was constructed that included all 7 factors that were thought might influence the influenza immunization decision. No variable-selection techniques were employed.

A total of 203 (97%) of 208 parents agreed to participate in the study. Overall, 54 (27%) of 203 children had received the influenza immunization in the 2000/01 influenza season. In the parallel subset of 8679 children, 1813 (21%) were also immunized (p = 0.06).

There were no differences between immunized children and nonimmunized children in terms of age (p = 0.16), sex (p = 0.75), daycare attendance (p = 1.00), parental education level (mother p = 0.49; father p = 1.00) or final ED diagnosis (p = 0.66). Children who had received an influenza immunization in the past (relative risk [RR] 2.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.8–4.2) and children with immunized family members (RR 7.5, 95% CI 3.7–15.1) were more likely to be immunized. Knowledge of influenza illness was similar among parents of immunized and nonimmunized children. Of the parents, 119 (58%) incorrectly identified vomiting and diarrhea as symptoms of influenza illness. Parents of nonimmunized children were more likely than those of immunized children to believe that influenza-like illness was a side effect of the immunization (42% v. 17%; p = 0.001), that side effects of the influenza immunization are worse than the illness itself (36% v. 17%; p = 0.010) and that influenza immunization could weaken the immune system (52% v. 24%; p < 0.001).

The 2 most common reasons for immunization were the belief that immunization prevents influenza (54% [29/54]) and that a physician had recommended it (39% [21/54]). The most common reason against immunization was the belief that their child was not at risk (38% [56/149]).

Of all parents, 57% (166/202) had discussed influenza immunization with a physician, and of these only 57% (64/112) received a recommendation for immunization. When immunization was not recommended, 96% (46/48) of children did not receive immunization. Of the parents who had not discussed immunization with a physician, 87% (75/86) of these children did not receive immunization.

Results of the logistic regression analysis of factors potentially associated with the decision to immunize are presented in Fig. 1. Having a chronic disease (OR = 4.7, 95% CI 1.8–12.6) and discussing immunization with a physician (OR = 6.8, 95% CI 2.4–19.2) both significantly influenced parental decisions to have their child immunized.

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Fig. 1: Crude and adjusted odds ratios for factors potentially influencing parents' decisions regarding influenza immunization of their.

The main limitation of this study is that the survey was administered to parents of children visiting the ED of a tertiary care pediatric hospital and may not represent parents of children in the general population who do not seek care at similar institutions. It is, however, the only dedicated ED for children in the region, and more than 50% of visits are for non-urgent care.

In our survey, about 25% of eligible children were vaccinated. This is comparable to provincial data for the 2000/01 influenza season, which showed an estimated immunization coverage of 20.4% for the 0- to 4-year age group and 30.2% for the 5- to 18-year age group (Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care: personal communication, June 2002). Our rates are also in keeping with data from other populations10^,11^,12^,13^,14 and other optional vaccines.15^,16

Our results suggest that parents have gaps in knowledge concerning influenza illness and immunization. Many parents believed that influenza manifests as gastrointestinal symptoms. This belief may cause parents to think that diarrhea or vomiting temporally associated with a vaccination is a sign of vaccine failure. As well, 40% of the parents of nonimmunized children felt that their children were not at risk of disease. In fact, children are often the “epicentre” of influenza outbreaks and can become very ill. These 2 issues should be emphasized in education campaigns.

In our study, logistic regression analysis revealed that children whose parents discussed influenza immunization with a physician were 7 times more likely than those whose parents did not discuss immunization to be vaccinated. This underscores the pivotal role of the physician in the promotion of immunization.10^,11^,15 Why immunization was not recommended in 43% of cases is not known; the only contraindications to vaccination for children 6 months of age or older are previous anaphylaxis to the vaccine and allergy to eggs or other vaccine components.17

Although the costs and benefits of universal influenza immunization remain widely debated, public health and primary care physicians may find our findings useful in planning future influenza immunization campaigns.18^,19^,20