Paediatricians Survey

COVID-19 vaccination of all age-eligible populations is an important part of the COVID-19 pandemic response. In Ontario, vaccination coverage in children aged 5–11 has remained lower than in other age groups. We wanted to understand paediatricians’ perceptions, practices, and barriers to COVID-19 vaccination in children, particularly 5–11 year old children, to help make targeted interventions and tools to ultimately help paediatricians with their skills in counselling caregivers and vaccinating children against COVID-19.

We distributed online questionnaires to paediatricians who are members of the Pediatricians Alliance of Ontario, which includes about 1,300 paediatricians in Ontario. The survey included four main sections:

• paediatricians’ demographic and practice information
• paediatricians’ perceptions and practices related to COVID-19 vaccines in children aged 5–11 years old
• paediatricians’ perceptions and practices related to COVID-19 vaccines in children aged 12–17 years old
• barriers to COVID-19 vaccination and further training related to COVID-19 vaccination

The results were analyzed using frequencies and percentages, and statistical testing.

In total, 152 paediatricians responded from February 17 to March 17, 2022. 78% of respondents were general paediatricians and 22% were paediatrician subspecialists, 68% were female and 32% male. Most paediatricians thought it was unlikely that children aged 5–11 years would become seriously ill from acute COVID-19 caused by Delta (66%) or Omicron (80%). 92% were very likely to recommend the COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5–11 years. COVID-19 vaccine was perceived as safe, with paediatricians rating safety higher in children aged 5–11 compared to 12–17 years. COVID-19 vaccines were thought to be effective in reducing hospitalization or severe illness, and reducing SARS-CoV-2 infection, with paediatricians rating higher effectiveness against Delta compared to Omicron. 97% felt confident counseling caregivers of children aged 5–11 years on the COVID-19 vaccine. Few paediatricians did not feel confident in accessing resources for health professionals (6%) or for patients/caregivers (12%).

Thus overall, most surveyed paediatricians were very likely to recommend COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 5–11 years, perceived COVID-19 vaccines as safe and effective and felt confident in their COVID-19 vaccine counseling for children aged 5–11 years. This study did highlight several areas for further training.

The results of this study have been presented at the European Society of Paediatric Infectious Diseases Annual Conference in May 2022 in Athens, Greece and published in Vaccine – Pediatricians’ perceptions, practices, and barriers regarding COVID-19 vaccine for children: A cross-sectional survey in Ontario, Canada.

Infographics:

• Paediatricians’ Perceptions, Practices, and Barriers Regarding COVID-19 Vaccine for Children Aged 5 to 11 Years (PDF)