The most recent survey, fielded online by the global research firm Ipsos from Oct. 14–22, 2021, asked 1,019 parents about their practices around screen time, social media, guns, mental health, conversations with children and the COVID-19 vaccines — with some of the questions posed as a follow-on to a 2020 survey.
What’s normal for vaccinating children against COVID-19? Parent’s plans, concerns and what they think other families are doing.
Behavior: Plans to get child under 12 vaccinated against COVID-19 after FDA approval (2021)
Parents of
children under 12
n = 758
Parents of
children 5-11
n = 530
Parents whose oldest
is under 5
n = 203
Yes
49.0%
51.0%
42.3%
No
31.0%
31.0%
33.6%
Unsure
20.0%
18.0%
24.2%
Behavior: Have you vaccinated your child (age 12 or older) against COVID 19? (2021)
Parents of children age 12 and older
Yes
64.0%
No
33.0%
Unsure
3.0%
N = 286
Key Issue: Concerns of parents around COVID-19 vaccination (2021)
Parents with children age 5 to 11
Parents planning
to vaccinate child
Parents not
vaccinating child
Parents who
are unsure
It may be too difficult or inconvenient to get the vaccine for my child
9.5%
1.8%
5.1%
The vaccine may be ineffective at protecting my child from COVID-19
14.9%
31.0%
28.3%
I am concerned about potential problems or side-effects from the vaccine
29.1%
68.5%
67.7%
I don't trust the government's motives for requiring the vaccine
6.0%
50.6%
27.0%
I want my child to be able to participate in school and community activities (sports, school activities, etc.) that may require the vaccine
51.2%
12.5%
34.3%
My child's school may mandate the vaccine
22.6%
17.9%
30.3%
I don't want my child to get sick with COVID-19
52.3%
11.9%
52.0%
I don't want my child to infect others in my family or my community with COVID-19
37.9%
6.0%
27.0%
I want to travel with my child
31.4%
6.0%
20.2%
I have no concerns about the vaccine for my child(ren)
28.6%
4.2%
12.0%
I am morally opposed to the vaccine
0.0%
13.1%
0.9%
Other issues I consider when deciding whether to get my child vaccinated against COVID-19
0.4%
6.5%
4.0%
None of these
6.0%
7.1%
5.1%
N = 530
Norm: What portion of parents you know with a child of similar age are getting that child vaccinated? (2021)
Parents with children age 5 to 11
Parents planning
to vaccinate child
Parents not
vaccinating child
Parents who
are unsure
All or nearly all of them
34.4%
7.7%
6.1%
Most of them
46.1%
13.7%
23.2%
Some, but not most of them
17.0%
39.9%
53.5%
Few, if any
2.5%
38.7%
17.2%
N = 530
