Childhood Vaccination and COVID-19

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Background

Childhood vaccination rates vary widely by country and region, and the reasons for these variations are likely to be context-specific. While access to vaccination is a perennial challenge, acceptance also remains an issue of importance to uptake which is affected by an individual’s feelings, attitudes and beliefs about vaccination. There is a spectrum of attitudes towards vaccination, including those who are pro-vaccination and accept all vaccines (vaccine acceptor), those who have many concerns but may fully or partially vaccinate (vaccine ambivalent), and those who refuse all vaccines (vaccine hesitant). Those who have questions and concerns have been shown to have lower levels of vaccination uptake which may have a substantial impact on vaccination coverage and increases the risk of outbreaks. Not only are unvaccinated individuals at higher risk of infection and adverse health outcomes, but under-vaccinated populations are at higher risk of more severe outbreaks. Parents play a pivotal role in healthcare decision making for their children. The vaccine hesitancy has gained more importance during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, childhood vaccination remained a significant challenge where parents were reported to have various concerns towards vaccines for influenza, polio and other infectious diseases. The extent of these concerns has increased substantially during this pandemic amid various conspiracy theories, negative beliefs and misleading narratives. In this context, it is imperative to study the parents' attitude and perception towards childhood vaccination.

Among the various challenges and barriers encountered by the healthcare system to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination of the adolescent and pediatric population is an emerging issue which is required to be solved in order to achieve success against the pandemic. According to an estimate, herd immunity can only be achieved once at least 70% population either recover from COVID-19 or receive the vaccine. Since children and adolescents comprise a large proportion of the population in each country, the achievement of herd immunity is not possible unless this population is either infected or vaccinated. Achievement of herd immunity through infection is not possible as a large number of infections in this population could lead to serious complications and thousands of deaths. The health care system could quickly become overwhelmed. In this context, vaccination of this population is the one and only mitigation strategy to curb the ongoing pandemic. However, vaccination of children primarily relies on the parents' perception and acceptance of vaccines for their children. There is a dire need to evaluate the parents` response to the COVID-19 vaccination campaign for the pediatric and adolescent populations. Moreover, data on the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines in this population is also currently lacking.



This Research Topic will primarily focus the effectiveness, safety and challenges of pediatric and adolescent vaccination campaigns against COVID-19. Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

1. Studies ascertaining the motivators and barriers of childhood vaccination among parents

2. Studies evaluating the barriers and motivators of COVID-19 vaccine among children

3. Studies estimating the administrative challenges and policy-related issues for continuous vaccination campaign against COVID-19

4. Studies determining the extent of parental acceptance towards COVID-19 vaccines for their children

5. Studies reporting on / comparing safety and efficacy data on the primary vaccination course and the booster dose

6. Studies reporting on safety and efficacy data on pediatric and adolescent COVID-19 vaccines

7. Challenges faced by vaccination programs in middle- and lower-income countries

8. Studies estimating the global vaccine equity in terms of childhood vaccination

9. Studies evaluating the association of conspiracy theories with vaccine hesitancy

10. Studies assessing the impact of community pharmacists and public health professionals on vaccination uptake

11. Research evaluating religious and social factors hindering vaccination rate in the various community

12. Systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses on vaccine safety and efficacy.

Keywords: childhood, children, vaccination, COVID-19

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