Research Brief is a brief description of interesting academic work.
Big idea
Our recently published study shows that children of nurses who discover as Republicans are less prone to receive the Covid-19 vaccine in comparison with children of nurses who discover as Democrats. Community Health Journal.
We surveyed over 1,000 nurses in South Dakota in June and July 2022. Of these, 298 participants admitted that that they had children aged 5 to 17. We asked this group about their kid’s vaccination status and located that children of nurses who identified as Democrats were 13% more prone to be vaccinated in comparison with offspring of nurses who identified as Republicans.
The timing of our survey only allowed us to measure parents’ vaccination intentions of youngsters aged 6 months to 4 years, because the approval of Covid-19 vaccines for this age group occurred only a couple of days before the survey. Of the 123 nurses who reported having children aged 6 months to 4 years, nurses who identified as Democrats were 14% more prone to intend to vaccinate their children in comparison with self-identified Republicans.
Additionally, we found that nurses who received a COVID-19 booster were more prone to vaccinate their children. On the opposite hand, gender, education and style of nursing qualification had no effect.
Why is that this vital?
Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, vaccinating children has been one in every of the major goals of vaccinations moot point. In our study, we found that polarization amongst nurses divided along party lines in an analogous solution to society.
Despite the wide availability of protected and free Covid-19 vaccines for kids and adolescents within the US, vaccination rates for people under 18 are lower than for adults. As of November 30, 2022, over 60% of youngsters remain unvaccinated.
Although children are frequently more immune to Covid-19, the chance continues to be significant. This was reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over 1,500 deaths of youngsters under 18 years of age for Covid-19, as of the tip of November 2022 and youngsters susceptible to “long” Covid symptoms too.
Nurses – and other healthcare staff – are on the forefront of efforts to stop Covid-19. They also advise patients who determine to vaccinate themselves and their families. Our study shows that amongst nurses, political bias appears to influence their approach to vaccinating their very own children.
Public health officials try to extend vaccinations against Covid-19. However, the politicization of the pandemic continues to hamper these efforts.
SOPA/LightRocket images via Getty Images
Increasing vaccination rates amongst children may also protect essentially the most defenseless members of societyequivalent to older people and folks with weakened immune systems. However, some parents still oppose vaccinating their children.
Our study shows that oldsters make decisions about vaccinating the complete family against Covid-19. We found that nurses who received a booster dose of the Covid-19 vaccine usually tend to vaccinate their children and adolescents. However, nurses who haven’t received a booster are much less prone to vaccinate their children.
What other research is being conducted
Our findings align with other research we and others have conducted that show the strong influence of party self-identification on attitudes and behaviors related to COVID-19.
Other research we have done shows that Republicans are less prone to do that than Democrats receive the Covid-19 vaccine and it’s less likely support mandatory vaccination against Covid-19. We also found that nurses who discover as Republican are less prone to receive the award Booster dose for Covid-19.
Our study joins a growing body of labor examining the aspects behind healthcare staff’ reluctance to be vaccinated against Covid-19. Other studies have been related race and ethnicitybut additionally trust in the federal government, amongst doctors and pharmaceutical corporations, on the approach of health care staff to vaccinations against Covid-19.
What’s next
Given the politicization of the pandemic and the erosion of trust in authorities, it can be crucial that messages encouraging children to be vaccinated come from trusted sources.
Our previous research suggests this religious leaders will help encourage compliance with preventive measures against Covid-19. In the long run, we plan to research whether endorsements from trusted community leaders can persuade parents to vaccinate their children.
