Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccination in Children among Adults attending Selected Health Facilities in Kinondoni Municipality; Dar es salaam, Tanzania: A Cross Sectional Study

BACKGROUND: Safe and effective vaccines are crucial for controlling and containing COVID-19 pandemic. However, poor acceptance and hesitance to vaccinate limit effective utilization. In Tanzania, COVID-19 vaccines have been in use with adequate coverage in adults from 18-years old, however, the acceptability of their use in children is not well understood. This study was aimed at determining the acceptability of COVID-19 vaccination in children among adults in Dar es salaam, Tanzania.

METHODS: A cross section study was conducted among adults attending outpatient clinic in Dar es salaam and were having children below 18-years at home. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect their demographic information and their opinions regarding COVID-19 vaccine use in their children. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 23). Level of acceptance and other categorical variables were calculated in frequency and percentages while factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination in children were determined using binary logistic regression analysis. A type II error of less or equal to 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: A total of 320 participants were recruited in the study. Among these, 289 (90.3%) were females. Out of all participants, 124 (38.57%) were willing for their children to receive COVID-19 vaccines upon availability and recommendation by respective authorities. Confidence in the safety of COVID-19 vaccines (Adjusted Odd Ratio= 0.03; 95% CI: 0.01-0.13; p=0.02, and perceived importance of COVID-19 vaccine use in children (AOR=0.29; 95% CI: 0.1-0.84; p=0.02) were independent factors associated with acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination in children.

CONCLUSION: The level of acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination for children in this study was low (38.57%), with uncertainty around vaccine safety being the major concern. Therefore, to increase COVID-19 vaccines acceptance and uptake in children, effective public communication supported by data on safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines should be emphasized.