Immunization Status in Children with Cerebral Palsy and Their Household Members, and Parental Beliefs and Attitudes About Childhood, Adulthood, and COVID-19 Immunizations

Abstract

Objective: To assess the immunization rate of the vaccines included in the Turkish National Immunization Program (NIP) among children with cerebral palsy (CP) and their households and to analyze parental beliefs and knowledge about vaccines and attitudes toward childhood, adult, and COVID-19 immunizations. Material and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study included children aged 3-10 years with a diagnosis of spastic CP. The initial face-toface interview with parents of children collected data on their children’s immunization rates, beliefs, and knowledge about vaccines, and parents were given information about adult immunization. Approximately one year after the initial interview, mothers were interviewed by telephone about the immunization rates of mothers, fathers, and grandparents and their COVID-19 vaccine acceptance or hesitancy. Numbers and percentages were presented as descriptive statistics. Results: Sixty-eight child-parent pairs participated in the first interview, and 67 mothers participated in the second interview. According to NIP, all children with CP and their siblings had been fully vaccinated on time. 70.6% of mothers had a positive belief toward childhood immunizations. None of the parents knew about optional childhood or adult immunizations. None of the parent and grandparent pairs had been vaccinated with vaccines included in the national adult immunization schedule. None of the 64 parent pairs who accepted to receive adult vaccines during the initial interview received the vaccines. 17.9% of parent pairs were detected to have COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy or refusal. Conclusion: National health policies for adult immunization should be developed to provide immunization to households with chronically ill children.