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Barriers to pediatric COVID-19 vaccination in Japan: A parent survey on convenience and access
Eiki Ogawa1, Shinji Kawabe2, Shiro Sugiura3
1Department of General Pediatrics, Aichi Children's Health and Medical Center, Aichi, Japan.
Insights
Pediatric COVID-19 vaccination in Japan faced access barriers due to limited sites and reliance on social media for information. Addressing these issues, like multi-dose vial challenges, is key to improving vaccination rates.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Public Health Policy
- Vaccination Logistics
Background:
- Japan's 2024 pediatric COVID-19 vaccination program utilized multi-dose vials for children aged 6 months to 4 years.
- This limited smaller clinics' participation and potentially restricted vaccine access.
- Evidence on parental logistical barriers in these settings was scarce.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the logistical barriers faced by parents seeking COVID-19 vaccination for children in Japan.
- To identify information sources and parental concerns regarding pediatric vaccination.
- To inform strategies for improving vaccine accessibility and uptake.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of children (6 months–11 years) vaccinated between December 2024 and June 2025.
- Anonymous online questionnaire for parents on information sources, appointment seeking, and difficulties.
- Comparison of residential distances between vaccine recipients and emergency department patients.
Main Results:
- Vaccine recipients lived significantly farther from the vaccination center (median 17.0 km vs 5.9 km).
- Social media was the primary information source (65%); only 9% used healthcare providers.
- Most parents (88%) reported significant trouble with limited vaccination sites; 41% contacted over 10 facilities.
Conclusions:
- Limited vaccination facility access and vaccine cost are significant barriers to pediatric COVID-19 vaccination.
- Social media plays a crucial role in parental information seeking.
- Targeted interventions addressing these barriers are essential for enhancing vaccination rates.
Background:
In Japan's 2024 pediatric COVID-19 vaccination program, only multi-dose vials were supplied for children aged 6 months to 4 years, limiting smaller clinics' willingness to offer vaccination and potentially restricting access. Evidence on logistical barriers faced by parents in such settings is limited.
Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed children aged 6 months to 11 years who received COVID-19 vaccination at the Aichi Children's Health and Medical Center between December 2024 and June 2025. Demographic data were extracted from electronic records. Parents completed an anonymous online questionnaire regarding information sources, appointment-seeking behaviors, perceived difficulties, and future vaccination intentions. Residential distance was compared with that of emergency department patients using the Mann-Whitney U test.
Results:
Eighty-three doses were administered to 49 children; 37 were aged 6 months-4 years. Vaccine recipients lived significantly farther from the center than emergency patients (median 17.0 km vs 5.9 km, p < 0.001). The questionnaire response rate was 69% (34/49). Social media was the main information source (65%), whereas only 9% received information from healthcare providers or public health centers. Most parents (88%) were "very troubled" by limited vaccination sites, and 41% contacted 10 or more facilities when seeking an appointment. The median travel time was 60 min.
Conclusions:
Regarding COVID-19 vaccinations, it has been found that access to vaccination facilities and vaccine cost can be barriers, and that information on social media is important for parents. We believe that focusing on measures to address these issues can lead to improved vaccination rates.
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