Exploring Parental Hesitancy Toward Childhood COVID-19 Vaccination in the United Arab Emirates

Parental concern regarding COVID-19 vaccination for children remains a significant public health issue. This study examines factors influencing vaccine hesitancy among parents of children aged 5 to 16, focusing on demographics, past vaccination behavior, and trust in information sources. An online cross-sectional survey of 393 parents was conducted. Results showed that children younger than 11 years old were vaccinated against COVID-19 at much lower rates compared to older children, 29.5% of 5-7-year-old children were vaccinated, whereas 97.6% of 14-16-year-old children were vaccinated. Children who had been up-to-date with routine vaccinations were significantly more likely to be vaccinated for COVID-19 (OR = 8.422 among children younger than 11, p < 0.001; OR = 12.113 among children older than 11, p < 0.001). Fathers were more hesitant than mothers (OR = 1.953, p = 0.004), and parents younger than 40 reported greater hesitation than older parents (OR = 2.272, p < 0.001). Interestingly, parents with higher levels of education reported greater hesitation, possibly because they were exposed to misleading scientific data on the internet. Healthcare practitioners were trusted by 76.8% of parents who sought vaccine information from their child's doctor, compared to 20.3% who looked to social media. Concerns about vaccine safety, including the newness of the vaccine and side effects, were highly prevalent. The implications of these findings suggest a need for public health campaigns to clear up misinformation, emphasize trusted clinical sources, and reach out to groups showing hesitation, particularly younger and educated parents. Cultural beliefs and psychological constructs, such as risk perception and trust in institutions, shape vaccine hesitancy, making it essential to identify key demographic and psychological factors to improve vaccine confidence and achieve greater uptake among United Arab Emirates (UAE) parents.