Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding the COVID-19 Vaccine for Children: A Questionnaire Survey at the 18-Month Health Check-Up

Background/Objectives: COVID-19 vaccination rate among children in Japan is low. This study aimed to address the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding parental COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy among parents with infants. Methods: We conducted a paper-based, household. Survey asked COVID-19 vaccination status, knowledge and attitudes among households with a vaccinated child, knowledge and attitudes among households with a non-vaccinated child, and intention to vaccinate among households with a non-vaccinated child. To analyze the factors associated with parental behavior, univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Results: Response sheets were mailed to 1,060 households, and 960 children; and 665 respondents agreed to participate in the study. Only 3.8% of the children received the COVID-19 vaccine. In the multivariate analysis, parents who received three or more doses of the COVID-19 vaccine was associated with the child’s vaccination status (adjusted OR 8.24, p < 0.01). Among respondents with a vaccinated child, 28.0% and 28.0% answered that vaccines can prevent long-term effects and complications and that COVID-19 is a serious infection, respectively. Sixteen percent said that social media platforms influenced their decision to vaccinate. Among the respondents with a non-vaccinated child, 38.9% answered that they had insufficient data on vaccine safety, while 26.7% answered that television and online news influenced their decision. Only 1.2% answered that they were planning to get the COVID-19 vaccine in the future. Conclusions: This KAP survey found a low rate of vaccination against COVID-19 among infants. These findings will contribute to the formulation of future public health practices.