Coronavirus: only 1 in 10 Hong Kong parents willing to allow young children to receive Covid-19 vaccine, survey finds
- An overwhelming 85 per cent of parents are worried about possible side effects of the shots, a survey by Education University of Hong Kong academics has found
- Researchers urge government to strengthen dissemination of information on efficacy and safety of vaccines for children
Given the low level of desire among parents to inoculate children aged five to 12, the Education University of Hong Kong academics who conducted the poll on Tuesday called on the government to strengthen the dissemination of information about the efficacy and safety of vaccines for children. It should also conduct in-depth consultations among parents.
EdU’s department of early childhood education interviewed 11,141 parents of kindergarten and primary school students aged five or above late last month.
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The survey findings showed only 9.7 per cent of parents would agree to arrange for their children to receive shots without any policy restrictions. Some 85 per cent were opposed to taking their children to receive the shots.
Even if vaccination status was a consideration for class resumption, 79 per cent of parents were still opposed to their children receiving shots, with only 13.5 per cent saying they would bring them to get jabbed.
Authorities have allowed children between the ages of five and 11 to receive the Sinovac vaccine since January 21 and the BioNTech version will be available from February 16. Children receiving the BioNTech vaccine will get a third of an adult dose.
By Monday, more than 17,200 children of this age group, or 4.2 per cent, had received a first dose of a vaccine.
