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Published on: May 6, 2015
A tailored COVID-19 vaccination pathway for children 5-11 years in Victoria, Australia
S F Gordon1, J Lam2, J T Vasquez2
1COVID-19 Vaccination Program, Department of Health, 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia; Vaccine Uptake Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia.
Insights
High parental satisfaction was achieved with a tailored COVID-19 vaccination program for children aged 5-11 years. The child-friendly approach, including specialized support, proved effective for pediatric vaccination success.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric vaccination strategies
- Public health initiatives
- Child psychology in healthcare
Background:
- Anticipated procedural anxiety in children aged 5-11 during COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
- Limited routine vaccinations in this age group necessitated a specialized approach.
- Victorian state government developed a child-friendly vaccination program.
Purpose of the Study:
- Assess parental satisfaction with a bespoke COVID-19 vaccination pathway for children.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of tailored support measures for pediatric vaccination.
- Identify key elements contributing to positive vaccination experiences in children.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an online immunization plan for identifying child support needs.
- Employed experienced pediatric staff and additional support for needle distress/disability.
- Distributed a 16-item feedback survey to parents/guardians of vaccinated children aged 5-11.
Main Results:
- Over 9200 responses received, with high overall parental satisfaction (94.4% rated 'very good' or 'excellent').
- Child-friendly staff (88.5%) and themed environments (66.3%) were highly valued.
- Additional support was utilized by 1.6% of children generally and 7.9% of those with disabilities.
Conclusions:
- A tailored COVID-19 vaccination program for children 5-11 years demonstrated high parental satisfaction.
- The program's success was linked to specialized support for needle distress and disabilities.
- This model is recommended for preschool COVID-19 vaccination and routine childhood immunization programs.
Background:
Procedural anxiety was anticipated in children 5-11 years during the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Victoria, Australia, as children in this age group receive few routine vaccines. Therefore, the Victorian state government designed a tailored, child-friendly vaccine program. This study aimed to assess parental satisfaction with elements of the bespoke vaccination pathway.
Methods:
The Victorian government and state-run vaccination hubs in Victoria facilitated an online immunisation plan to help parents identify their child's support needs, and utilised experienced paediatric staff and additional supports for children with severe needle distress and/or disability. All parents/guardians of children 5-11 years who received a COVID-19 vaccine in a vaccination hub were sent a 16-item feedback survey via text message.
Results:
Between 9 February and 31 May 2022 there were 9203 responses; 865 children (9.4%) had a first language other than English, 499 (5.4%) had a disability or special needs, and 142 (1.5%) were Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. Most parents (94.4%; 8687/9203) rated their satisfaction with the program as very good or excellent. The immunisation plan was used by 13.5% (1244/9203) of respondents, with usage more common for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children (26.1%; 23/88) or families with a first language other than English (23.5%; 42/179). The child-friendly staff (88.5%, 255/288) and themed environment (66.3%, 191/288) were the most valued measures for vaccination. Additional support measures were required by 1.6% (150/9203) of children in the general population and 7.9%, (17/261) of children with a disability and/or special needs.
Conclusion:
A tailored COVID-19 vaccination program for children 5-11 years, with additional support for children with severe needle distress and/or disability, had high parental satisfaction. This model could be utilised for COVID-19 vaccination in pre-school children and for routine childhood vaccination programs to provide optimal support to children and their families.
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