Parents' Distrust of COVID-19 Vaccination Affects Children's Health

Strategic Insights -

Researchers from Wroclaw Medical University in Poland have published a study on the attitudes of parents towards vaccinating their children against COVID-19. The study, conducted in 2025, aimed to understand the reasons behind parents' distrust of the vaccination program, particularly in regards to children. The research found that over 52% of parents who participated in the online questionnaire survey expressed skepticism towards vaccinating their children, with many believing that vaccines endanger the health and life of children.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study recruited 1263 parents of children aged 5-11 in Poland, with 34.28% confirming that they did or planned to vaccinate their children.
  • More than half (52.02%) of the responders stated that they had not vaccinated their children and would not do so in the future.
  • Parents who did not vaccinate their children exhibited highly negative attitudes towards vaccination, believing that vaccines endanger the health and life of children.
  • The majority (73.93%) of non-vaccinating parents feared severe adverse reactions from the vaccine.
  • Parents who did not vaccinate their children often relied on misconceptions about the immune system and the purpose of vaccination.
  • The research concluded that more information about the safety and value of COVID-19 vaccines should be made public to address parents' concerns.

Statistics:

  • 52.02% of parents had not vaccinated their children and would not do so in the future.
  • 73.93% of non-vaccinating parents believed that vaccines endanger the health and life of children.
  • 33.84% of non-vaccinating parents feared severe adverse reactions from the vaccine.
  • 28.05% of non-vaccinating parents believed that children should be immunized by getting over the disease.

Sources:

  • Archives De Pediatrie Journal, "Vaccinating children against SARS-CoV-2 - parents' attitude", 2025.
  • NewsRx, "Investigators at Wroclaw Medical University Report New Data on COVID-19 (Vaccinating children against SARS-CoV-2 - parents' attitude)", Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA, October 26, 2025, p 78.