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Parent-dependent barriers to varicella immunization in Israel: the importance of adequate information
Amos Adler1, Eli Herring, Hanan Babilsky
1Pediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petah Tiqwa and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. amosa@hadassah.org.il
Insights
Parental knowledge gaps significantly hinder varicella (chickenpox) immunization rates in Israel. Improving vaccine information access, especially for lower socioeconomic groups, is crucial for increasing childhood vaccination coverage.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Public Health Policy
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Varicella (chickenpox) is a common childhood illness.
- Vaccination is an effective preventive measure.
- Understanding parental barriers is key to improving immunization rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify parent-dependent barriers to varicella immunization in Israel.
- To explore socioeconomic and educational factors influencing vaccination decisions.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire-based survey was conducted with 1474 parents of children aged 1-18 years.
- Data were collected from outpatient pediatric centers in five Israeli cities.
- Statistical analysis examined correlations between demographics and immunization status.
Main Results:
- Only 34.1% of eligible children without a prior chickenpox history were vaccinated.
- Lower parental education and lower socioeconomic city ranking were associated with lower immunization rates.
- Insufficient information (49%), fear of side effects (12%), and preference for natural infection (12%) were primary barriers.
Conclusions:
- Enhancing parental knowledge about the varicella vaccine is essential for improving uptake.
- Targeted information campaigns are needed for families with lower educational backgrounds and from disadvantaged areas.
- Addressing specific parental concerns can overcome key barriers to varicella vaccination.
Aim:
To examine the parent-dependent barriers to varicella immunization in Israel.
Methods:
Data were collected by questionnaire from parents of children aged 1 to 18 years who attended an outpatient paediatric centre in five cities in Israel from March to May 2003.
Results:
A total of 1474 parents completed the questionnaire. A history of chicken pox was reported in 850 children (57.8%), mostly (83%) between ages 1-6 years. Of the 624 children without a history of chicken pox, 213 (34.1%) were immunized against varicella. Immunization rates were significantly lower in families with lower parental education and in patients from cities with a lower socioeconomic ranking (p < 0.05). The main reasons for not being vaccinated (49%) were related to insufficient information about the vaccine itself and the vaccination process. These reasons were more common in families with lower parental education and from cities with lower socioeconomic ranking (p < 0.01). Other reasons included fear of adverse effects (12%) and waning immunity (6%), preference of natural illness over immunization (12%), and financial limitations (5%).
Conclusions:
Promoting parental knowledge about the varicella vaccine appears to be a key factor in improving the immunization rate, especially in families of lower education, and from cities with low socioeconomic ranking.
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