Childhood and adolescent immunisation intentions post-COVID-19 in Lusaka, Zambia

The study examined perceptions and intentions of parents and caregivers regarding vaccination of children and adolescents in Lusaka, Zambia, between November and December 2023. Among 277 respondents (66.8% women, median age 35 years), 93.1% reported that their child received all recommended routine childhood vaccinations. COVID-19 vaccination uptake was higher among healthcare workers (68.2% with two or more doses) than among community members (40.8%). Only 58% of caregivers reported that their adolescents aged 12-17 years received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose. Overall intention to further vaccinate children against COVID-19 was low, with 24.7% of caregivers expressing no intent to vaccinate their children. The main reasons for hesitancy were fear of side effects (45.5%) and insufficient knowledge about vaccination benefits and risks (31.8%). Caregivers most trusted the Ministry of Health (86.6%) and healthcare professionals (66.8%) as sources of vaccine information.