Background
There is limited data on adult opinions toward school-based vaccination programs, which can supplement clinic-based strategies in the Brazilian public health system. Since 2016, vaccination rates among Brazilian children and adolescents have shown worrisome declines, remaining well below full coverage, including for more recently introduced COVID-19 vaccines. School vaccination programs are not commonly implemented or monitored in Brazil.
Methods
A face-to-face household survey of Brazilians aged 18+ was conducted from July 29 to August 3, 2023. This cross-sectional study used multivariate and ordinal logistic regressions to assess caregiver support for school vaccination programs against COVID-19, HPV, influenza, and dengue.
Findings
Most caregivers stated they would support vaccinating their child at school. However, more guardians were unwilling to have their child or adolescent participate in COVID-19 school vaccination (21.11, 95 % CI, 18.3 %, 23.9 %, p < 0.001) compared to dengue (13.60, 95 % CI, 11.2 %, 16.0 %, p < 0.001), HPV (13.95, 95 % CI, 11.5 %, 16.4 %, p < 0.001), and influenza (12.80, 95 % CI, 10.4 %, 15.1 %, p < 0.001). All else equal, factors predicting opinions opposed to vaccinating at school included being a caregiver of only children younger than six and those who self-identify as Evangelical. Except for dengue, women are equally likely to support school vaccination programs as men.
Interpretation
At least one in five Brazilian caregivers of school-aged children is hesitant about participating in COVID-19 school vaccine programs, whereas one in 10 is hesitant about influenza, HPV, and dengue vaccines.
