Correlates of willingness to accept school-based influenza vaccination and vaccination intention among parents of adolescents in rural Georgia

Background: The CDC recommends annual influenza vaccination for children aged 6 months-18 years. Parents' attitudes toward influenza vaccination may impact immunization outcomes. This study surveyed parents of adolescents residing in rural Georgia to examine correlates of intention to vaccinate against influenza and willingness to accept school-based influenza vaccination. Methods: Participants were recruited from three counties participating in a school-based influenza vaccination intervention in rural Georgia (N=324). Baseline data were collected from parents of adolescents attending participating middle- and high-schools via phone survey. Multivariate logistic regression assessed correlates of influenza vaccination intention and willingness to accept school-based influenza vaccination. Results: Over half (57%) of parents intended to vaccinate their children against influenza in the next year and 83% would allow their children to be vaccinated against influenza at school. In controlled multivariate analyses, parental intention to vaccinate was associated with past influenza vaccination (AOR=2.58, 95% CI=1.27-5.21, p=.009), doctor's recommendation (AOR=2.65, 95% CI=1.27-5.51, p=.009), and social norms (AOR=2.05, 95% CI=1.48-2.85, p<.001). The odds of willingness to accept a school-based vaccination were lower among participants reporting black race (AOR=0.42, 95% CI=0.18-0.98, p=.044), general mistrust of immunizations (AOR=0.67, 95% CI=0.46-0.99, p=.042), and influenza-specific vaccine barriers (AOR=0.40, 95% CI=0.27-0.60, p<.001). Conclusions: Findings suggest there are high levels of parental intention to vaccinate and willingness to accept school-based influenza vaccination in rural Georgia. These findings indicate that school-based influenza vaccinations may be an effective method for vaccinating rural adolescents. To maximize parental acceptance, future interventions should address social norms, mistrust, and barriers to immunization.