The Evaluation of the Relationship Between Parents’ Decisions to Administer Routine Childhood Vaccines and Their Attitudes Toward COVID-19 Vaccines

Background: Vaccine hesitancy toward routine childhood immunization may influence parental acceptance of newly introduced vaccines. Understanding how these attitudes extend to COVID-19 vaccines is crucial for improving vaccination strategies. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between January and May 2022 in four Family Health Centers. Parents of children aged 0–13 years were categorized into two groups based on their children’s routine vaccination status over the previous five years: parents of unvaccinated children and parents of fully vaccinated children. Participants were contacted by family physicians via telephone and completed a structured questionnaire including items on COVID-19 vaccination and validated attitude scales. Results: Acceptance of at least one COVID-19 vaccine was substantially lower among parents of unvaccinated children compared with those whose children were fully vaccinated. Parents demonstrating confidence in routine childhood immunization exhibited more favorable perceptions and fewer concerns regarding COVID-19 vaccines. Overall, parental hesitancy toward routine vaccines was strongly associated with increased reluctance toward COVID-19 vaccination, with a statistically significant difference observed between the groups. Conclusion: Despite increased visibility of immunization during the pandemic, rapid development and implementation of COVID-19 vaccines appear to have amplified existing vaccine hesitancy among certain parent groups. Strengthening vaccine communication and counseling efforts in primary care settings may play a key role in addressing parental concerns and improving vaccine acceptance.