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ФАКТОРЫ ГОТОВНОСТИ РОДИТЕЛЕЙ ВАКЦИНИРОВАТЬ СВОИХ ДЕТЕЙ ОТ МЕНИНГОКОККОВОЙ ИНФЕКЦИИ
Significance. In Russia, the vaccination of children against meningococcal disease is included in immunization schedule with limitations, the vaccination is recommended just in cases of outbreaks caused by meningococcal serogroups A or C. As far as the disease is more dangerous for children rather than adults, in some countries the vaccination is recommended for all children. It is recommended by some researchers to expand vaccination programmes for children in Russia. This study is focused on determining factors affecting parents’ willingness to vaccinate their children. The main part of this study is based on data from a survey of parents in the Perm agglomeration.
Purpose: to determine factors affecting parents’ willingness to vaccinate their children against meningococcal disease.
Material and methods. Data was gathered through a survey. Logistic regression was used for determining factors affecting parents’ willingness to vaccinate children.
Results. There are three main factors which have a significantly positive influence on parents’ willingness to vaccinate children. Firstly, an increase of 30% in willingness to vaccinate children was observed for those parents who got vaccination recommendations from relatives. Secondly, parents with higher medical education are 40% more likely to vaccinate children compared to those who have other types of higher education. Thirdly, an 82% drop of vaccine price from current market price can increase the probability of vaccination but just for 7,3%. A switch to free vaccination from current market price vaccination can increase the probability of vaccination on 26,6%. Potential vaccination rates are lower if vaccination is available only in private medical centers or only in municipal polyclinics compared to a case where vaccination is available in both these types of medical organizations.
Conclusions. Free vaccination in both types of medical organizations — private centers and municipal polyclinics — is necessary when there is a need for rapid growth of vaccination rates. Stimulating discussions among friends and relatives about meningococcal vaccination is also important for increasing parents’ willingness to vaccinate children. Moreover, informing parents about benefits from meningococcal vaccination and side effects of particular vaccines is also considerable, as well as giving them provaccination recommendations from trustworthy doctors and other experts.
Scope of application. The results obtained are to be taken into account while developing measures for increasing vaccination rates.