Survey on COVID-19 Vaccination among Pediatric Cancer Patients and Their Parents: A Single-Center Study from Korea

Immunocompromised children are a high-risk group for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A nationwide study in Korea found that the average COVID-19 vaccination rate in high-risk children was higher than in the general pediatric population, whereas vaccination rates in pediatric cancer patients were lower.

Surveys on COVID-19 vaccination among pediatric cancer patients and parents were conducted during the pandemic (July 1, 2022-July 31, 2022) and post-pandemic (December 26, 2023-January 5, 2024) periods. Vaccination rates of patients and their parents were compared with general population data. Factors associated with the vaccination status of patients were identified. Parental reasons for not vaccinating their children were also assessed.

In the first survey of 111 patients, the two-dose COVID-19 vaccination rate was 28.8%, lower than the rate in the general pediatric population, 40.7% (P=0.028). The two-dose vaccination rates for fathers (90.1%) and mothers (85.6%) were also lower than those of the general adult population (96.4%) (P<0.001). In the second survey of 26 patients, two patients received seasonal COVID-19 vaccination (7.7%). Among patients aged 12-19 years from the first survey, those in the younger age group, hematopoietic cell transplantation recipients, or those with parental under-vaccination status were more likely to be unvaccinated. Parental concerns about vaccine adverse reactions were a primary factor in their decision not to vaccinate their children.

Considering the negative attitude toward the COVID-19 vaccine among parents of children with cancer, the government and healthcare professionals should endeavor to increase parental trust in this novel vaccine platform.