441 - Lyme Disease Vaccine Attitudes and Intentions Among Parents of Children Aged 5-18 Years in U.S. States with High or Emerging Lyme Disease Incidence

Poster Number: 441
Publication Number: 441.323

Courtney Gidengil, RAND Corporation, Boston, MA, United States; Aaron M. Scherer, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States; Andrew M. Parker, RAND Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Amber Gedlinske, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States; Shannon Fleck, CDC, Fort Collins, CO, United States; Alison F.. Hinckley, CDC, Fort Collins, CO, United States; Sarah Hook, CDC, Fort Collins, CO, United States; Megan C.. Lindley, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States; Grace Marx, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, United States

Background: Lyme disease (LD) is the most common vector-borne disease in the US, with geographic expansion and increasing incidence. Case distribution is bimodal, with peaks in school-aged children and older adults. A new LD vaccine is in Phase 3 trials.

Objective: To assess parental beliefs and risk perceptions about LD, as well as predictors of LD vaccination intentions for their children.

Design/Methods: We conducted an online survey (N=1351) of parents of children aged 5-18 years in states with high and emerging LD incidence about beliefs and perceptions about LD and LD vaccination intentions. Our primary outcome was willingness for their child to receive an LD vaccine ( “definitely” or “probably” willing). Our secondary outcome was preference for annual monoclonal antibody injections compared to a 3-dose vaccine series with boosters every few years.

Results: Most parents had heard of LD in high (81.9%) and emerging incidence states (86.5%). One third of parents in high and emerging incidence states thought their child would get LD at some point (39.8% and 32.5% respectively); less than half thought that LD would have a mild course (41.6% and 39.7% respectively). Most parents (68.8%) would have their child vaccinated against LD, with significantly more in high compared to emerging incidence states (71.9% vs 64.0%, p = 0.002). More parents preferred an annual antibody injection (42.4%) to a 3-dose vaccine series (36.2%), with 14.4% having no preference and 7.0% not wanting either option (no significant difference between states). Parental willingness to be vaccinated themselves against LD was overwhelmingly correlated with willingness for their child in bivariable analyses (OR 28.40, 95% CI 20.44, 39.46), so this was not included in the multivariable model. Other significant predictors of willingness to have one’s child vaccinated (Table 1) were a positive attitude towards vaccines; higher perceived risk of the child getting LD; the child spending time outdoors daily or weekly; following a regular vaccine schedule; higher parental education; and living in a high incidence state. Significant predictors of preference for a monoclonal antibody over a 3-dose vaccine series included prior awareness of LD (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.01, 2.13) and living in a rural area (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.25, 2.20).

Conclusion(s): Parents who were willing to be vaccinated against LD themselves and who had favorable attitudes to vaccines in general were more willing to have their child vaccinated in the future. Our findings have important implications for roll-out of a future LD vaccine.