Parental category B vaccine hesitancy and associated factors in China: an online cross-sectional survey

Background Vaccine hesitancy is one of the top ten health threats. We aimed to (1) assess parental Category B vaccines hesitancy and associated sociodemographic factors in China, and (2) explore the association between attitude toward vaccines and self-reported hesitant behavior. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed through a web-based anonymous online questionnaire survey between 9 February and 7 April 2021. Chinese parents aged >= 18 years with one child aged < 6 years were included to assess vaccine hesitancy using the vaccine-hesitancy scale (VHS). Structural equation model was used to determine relationships between variables. Results Of 2952 Chinese parents included in the analysis, 17.5% were highly hesitant in Category B vaccines. Parents who were younger, less educated, engaged in health-related occupations, and had been vaccinated against influenza in the past year were more hesitant when vaccinating their children (P < 0.001). VHS score accuracy to identify vaccine-hesitant behavior was acceptable, and the optimal cutoff was 37.50 (with 61.96% parental vaccine hesitancy). Parents who lack confidence or believe vaccines were risk were more likely to show vaccine hesitant behavior (P < 0.001). Conclusions In China, effective interventions need to be implemented to eliminate parental Category B vaccines hesitancy.