Vaccination Adherence: Views of Parents and Health Professionals at Children’s Polyclinics (Example of the Ivanovo Region)

Abstract

Introduction: Nowadays vaccination is the most effective, safe and cost-effective means of preventing infectious diseases. Along with the obvious successes of vaccination, there are problems in its organization, often associated with compliance of both parents and medical workers. Objective: To establish commitment to vaccination among parents and healthcare professionals at children’s polyclinics and the main barriers to vaccination. Materials and methods: In February–March 2022, we conducted a questionnaire-based survey of 226 parents and 184 medical workers based on educational institutions and children’s polyclinics of the city of Ivanovo and the region. The sampling was targeted and conducted in gathering places. The collected data were then analyzed using SPSS version 12.0. Results: The study showed poor parental adherence to vaccination. The main barriers to vaccination among them were disbelief in vaccination efficacy, the opinion that commercial interests of pharmaceutical companies prevail, imaginary concerns about safety of vaccination, distrust of the population in certain vaccines, and poor commitment to vaccination against certain infections. At the same time, the overwhelming majority of the health professionals surveyed supported vaccination and reported such major barriers to vaccination as an increasing number of children with chronic diseases not covered by vaccination, medical advice to refuse vaccination, and the anti-vaccine activism. Conclusion: It is important to promote adherence to vaccination of both parents and medical workers. The primary task is to eliminate the lack of information about the efficacy and safety of immunization in children using all possible information and educational resources.