A series of scandals involving the rabies vaccine and the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis combined vaccine (DTP) were reported in July 2018, in China. Our goal was to assess the effects of the vaccine scandal on parents' attitudes and decisions regarding vaccination. A cross-sectional study was conducted by contacting kindergarteners' parents through an online questionnaire from March 1 to 8, 2019. In total, 14,300 valid questionnaire responses were received, and 92.53% of respondents were aware of the recent vaccine scandal. Among parents who were aware of the vaccine scandal, 13.62% preferred that their children receive optional vaccines (optional vaccine group) or delay, stop or reject vaccinations (hesitate group) instead of receiving mandatory vaccines (mandatory vaccine group). Awareness of the vaccine scandal and self-reporting of vaccine-associated side effects in their children were more common among respondents in the optional vaccine and the hesitate groups (P < 0.001). Compared with the mandatory vaccine group, parents in the hesitate group were more likely to report having attempted to dissuade others from vaccinating their children (P < 0.001). Because the scandal changed parents' decisions regarding vaccination of their children, efforts should be made to restore public confidence in vaccines and to boost immunization rates.
Keywords: Childhood vaccination; China; Decision-making; Vaccine hesitancy; Vaccine scandal.
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