The awareness and acceptance of anti-COVID 19 vaccination in adolescence

• Published in: Italian journal of pediatrics 2022-12, Vol.48 (1), p.194-194, Article 194
• Main Authors: Cupertino, Vita, Bozzola, Elena, De Luca, Giampaolo, Del Giudice, Emanuela, De Martino, Giuseppe, Cannataro, Piero, Tozzi, Alberto Eugenio, Corsello, Giovanni
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescence; Adolescent; Adolescents; Child; Chronic illnesses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - prevention & control; COVID-19 Vaccines; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Immunization; Parents; Pediatrics; RNA, Viral; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Statistical analysis; Students; Survey; Surveys; Teenagers; Vaccination; Vaccines
• ISSN: 1824-7288; 1720-8424; 1824-7288
• DOI: 10.1186/s13052-022-01390-8

COVID-19 had devastating effects on children's and adolescents' life, including neuropsychological impairment, discontinuation of social life and education. Since June 2021, antiCOVID19 vaccination has become available to adolescents in Italy up to 12 years and since December 2021 to children aged more than 5 years. The pediatric population represents a challenging target for vaccination. Aim of the study is to perform a survey among adolescents to explore factors associated with COVID 19 immunization and their perceptions about COVID-19 vaccines. Italian students aged 10-17 years were invited to participate in an anonymous online survey regarding their immunization against COVID-19 and their opinion on the immunization practice through a web link to the questionnaire. The study period was March-June 2022. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS v 21. In the study period, 895 students entered the survey. A total of 87.3% of respondents were immunized against SARS-CoV2. The most important predictors of being immunized against SARS-CoV2 were having both parents immunized (p