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ABSTRACT

Background: Despite the availability of COVID-19 vaccines, vaccine hesitancy remains a challenge, especially in underprivileged areas. Parents of adolescents are important stakeholders in adolescent vaccination.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from October to December 2022 in a Government Boys’ Higher Secondary School in Austin Town, Bangalore. The study included parents of adolescent boys aged 10–19 years. A structured, face-validated questionnaire captured socio-demographic details, COVID-19 vaccination status, and parental reasons for vaccine hesitancy. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics 20, with chi-square tests to assess associations.

Results: Out of 100 adolescent boys, 90% were vaccinated. There was no significant association between vaccination status and age, religion, family type, parental occupation, or education. However, higher socioeconomic status was significantly associated with vaccination uptake (p=0.007). Vaccine hesitancy among parents was observed in 10% of respondents, primarily due to concerns about vaccine necessity (80%), side effects (60%), and negative rumours (40%). Fear of adverse effects on growth, intelligence, or fertility also contributed to hesitancy.

Conclusions: The high adolescent vaccination coverage in this study may be attributed to free school-based vaccination programs and mandatory vaccine certification for school attendance. However, vaccine hesitancy among 10% of parents highlights the need for targeted health education campaigns to address misinformation and build vaccine confidence. Strengthening parental awareness through school-based health communication strategies could play a critical role in improving adolescent vaccine acceptance.