Table 6.
Reasons for not yet vaccinating child or adolescent against COVID-19,a by child age group and parental intention toward vaccination, United States, Household Pulse Survey, September 14–November 14, 2022.
| Children and adolescents <18 years |
Child <5 years |
Child 5–11 years |
Adolescents 12–17 years |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uncertain about vaccinating childb | Reluctant about vaccinating childc | Uncertain about vaccinating childb | Reluctant about vaccinating childc | Uncertain about vaccinating childb | Reluctant about vaccinating childc | Uncertain about vaccinating childb | Reluctant about vaccinating childc | |
| % (95%CI) | % (95%CI) | % (95%CI) | % (95%CI) | % (95%CI) | % (95%CI) | % (95%CI) | % (95%CI) | |
| Concern about possible side effects of a COVID-19 vaccine for children | 57.2 (53.9, 60.5) | 53.3 (51.7, 54.8) | 55.1 (50.5, 59.7) | 55.0 (52.2, 57.9) | 58.0 (51.7, 64.3) | 52.2 (48.3, 56.1) | 55.0 (47.0, 63.0) | 47.9 (44.5, 51.2) |
| Plan to wait and see if it is safe and may get it later | 45.6 (42.1, 49.1)d | 17.7 (16.5, 19.0) | 52.0 (47.4, 56.6)d | 23.1 (20.4, 25.9) | 40.1 (33.8, 46.4d | 15.9 (13.2, 18.7) | 40.7 (32.6, 48.7)d | 13.8 (11.6, 16.0) |
| Not sure if a COVID-19 vaccine will work for children | 9.1 (7.3, 10.9) | 9.1 (8.1, 10.1) | 9.3 (6.9, 11.7) | 9.6 (7.7, 11.5) | 8.7 (5.1, 12.3) | 7.6 (6.0, 9.1) | 3.2 (1.7, 4.7)d | 8.1 (5.7, 10.4) |
| Don’t believe children need a COVID-19 vaccine | 5.2 (3.9, 6.6)d | 38.8 (37.4, 40.1) | 5.3 (3.6, 6.9)d | 41.2 (38.3, 44.1) | 4.1 (2.5, 5.8)d | 38.9 (35.0, 42.7) | f | 33.1 (30.1, 36.1) |
| The children in this household are not members of a high-risk group | 18.0 (16.0, 20.1)d | 32.8 (31.1, 34.6) | 16.3 (13.9, 18.8)d | 35.5 (32.3, 38.7) | 19.3 (15.1, 23.5)d | 29.1 (25.9, 32.2) | 15.4 (10.5, 20.3)d | 27.8 (24.5, 31.1) |
| The children’s doctor has not recommended it | 16.1 (13.3, 18.9) | 13.4 (12.4, 14.5) | 21.3 (17.2, 25.5) | 17.9 (15.5, 20.2) | 9.3 (6.2, 12.4) | 11.1 (9.1, 13.1) | 7.6 (3.3, 11.9) | 10.5 (7.7, 13.3) |
| Don’t trust COVID-19 vaccines | 7.0 (5.3, 8.8)d | 48.7 (47.2, 50.3) | 3.7 (2.1, 5.3)d | 46.1 (42.5, 49.7) | 6.0 (3.9, 8.2)d | 46.3 (43.2, 49.3) | 9.9 (4.9, 14.9)d | 52.4 (48.1, 56.8) |
| Don’t trust the government | 3.8 (2.9, 4.7)d | 35.6 (34.0, 37.3) | 2.5 (1.6, 3.5)d | 33.9 (30.5, 37.3) | f | 34.5 (31.3, 37.7) | 4.8 (2.2, 7.3)d | 36.3 (32.7, 39.8) |
| Othere | 14.3 (12.3, 16.4)d | 20.2 (19.0, 21.4) | 13.5 (10.5, 16.6)d | 18.2 (15.9, 20.4) | 16.5 (12.0, 21.1) | 18.4 (15.5, 21.3) | 10.3 (6.4, 14.1)d | 23.2 (20.3, 26.1) |
Asked of parents with children who were not vaccinated against COVID-19.
Vaccination intent was categorized as uncertain if parents stated that they probably or were unsure about getting the child a [COVID-19] vaccine.
Vaccination intent was categorized as reluctant if parents stated that they probably will not or definitely will not get the child a [COVID-19] vaccine.
Significant (p < 0.05) for linear regression comparing differences in proportions of respondents who are reluctant toward vaccinations for children <5 years and 5–11 years and compared with those who are reluctant toward vaccinations for adolescents 12–17 years.
Other: Other people need [the vaccine] more than the children in this household do right now (n = 403); concern about missing work to have the children vaccinated (n = 225); unable to get a COVID-19 vaccine for children in this household (n = 85); parents or guardians in this household do not vaccinate their children (n = 601); concern about the cost of a COVID-19 vaccine (n = 334); and other reason not listed (n = 1857).
Estimates suppressed due to relative standard error > 30%.