According to a new study published in the journal Paediatrics, most parents are concerned about the long-term risk associated with COVID-19 vaccination for their children, and others are afraid they will be held liable if their kids become ill after receiving the vaccine.

Despite efforts to boost childhood immunization rates, many children remain unvaccinated owing to parental worries about the vaccines long-term consequences and expected responsibilities. In the study, the researchers wanted to find out the reasons leading to low childhood immunization rates in the United States. They noted that at present, just 39% of children aged 5 to 11 and 68% of those aged 12 to 17 have had vaccines, compared to 92% of adults.

The researchers from the Dornsife Centre for Economic and Social Research (CSER) at the University of Southern California (USC) revealed that 45% of parents are concerned about potential long-term risks, while 18% of the parents are anxious about being held liable if their kid becomes ill following vaccination.

The principal researcher of the study, Dr. Ying Liu, explained that "parents hesitancy was partly driven by apprehension about the vaccine, stemming from its rapid development and use of newer techniques." He noted that people frequently exhibit a more cautious approach when making medical decisions for others, including their children. 

(Source: https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=1072898 )