The impact of a vaccine scare on parental views, trust and information needs: a qualitative study in Sydney, Australia

BMC Public Health

Research Article

Catherine King¹  Julie Leask² 

[1] National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Locked Bag 4001, 2145, Westmead, NSW, Australia;Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead Clinical School, Locked Bag 4001, 2145, Westmead, NSW, Australia;National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Locked Bag 4001, 2145, Westmead, NSW, Australia;Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Edward Ford Building A27, 2006, Westmead, NSW, Australia;

关键词: Australia;    Influenza;    Immunisation;    Vaccine;    Safety;    Parents;    Attitudes;    Communication;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-017-4032-2

 received in 2016-08-15, accepted in 2017-01-13,  发布年份 2017

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundVaccine safety scares can undermine public confidence in vaccines and decrease immunisation rates. Understanding and addressing parental concerns arising during such scares can assist in lessening their impact. In Australia in April 2010 there was a temporary suspension of influenza vaccine for children under 5 years of age after reports of an increase in the rate of adverse events following vaccination. This qualitative study aimed to explore the impact of the vaccine suspension on parental knowledge, attitudes, trust, information needs, and intent related to influenza vaccination and broader immunisation programs.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 parents of children attending childcare centres in Sydney, Australia, between June 2010 and May 2011. Centres were selected to include parents from a range of socioeconomic backgrounds. Interview transcripts were coded and analysed using an approach informed by grounded theory.ResultsFindings indicated that, for those who recalled the vaccine suspension, there was a lasting sense of uncertainty and confusion and a perceived lack of information. Parents had distinct information needs following the vaccine suspension, especially in regards to vaccine safety, testing and recommendations. For many, influenza vaccination intent was conditional on receipt of information from a trusted, authoritative source allaying safety concerns. Importantly, the impact of the scare was contained to influenza vaccines only, and not other vaccine programs.ConclusionsParental concerns and information gaps following a vaccine safety scare need to be actively addressed. We provide policy and practice suggestions for proactively managing such incidents, particularly in relation to communication of timely, targeted information to parents and immunisation providers.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2017