INSCOP Survey: "The Attitude of Parents and Grandparents Regarding the Influenza Vaccination of Children"

Sociological Research:

"The Attitude of Parents and Grandparents Regarding the Vaccination of Children Against Influenza"

On Thursday, December 22, at the Bucharest Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIB Palace), in the presence of numerous experts from the medical field, representatives of civil society, and decision-makers, the study "The Attitude of Parents and Grandparents Regarding the Vaccination of Children Against Influenza" was launched.

The survey, conducted by INSCOP Research at the request of the Association of Private Schools and with the scientific support of the Romanian Society for Vaccination Strategies and Health Promotion, aimed to capture how influenza vaccination is perceived, the aspects that generate reluctance, and the expectations towards authorities and the medical system. The results aim to contribute to a necessary debate about prevention and priorities in the field of pediatric health, under conditions where lack of information and distrust continue to influence the decisions of parents and grandparents, with direct effects on the health of children and communities in general.

Methodology. The opinion survey was conducted by INSCOP Research at the request of the Association of Private Schools and with the scientific support of the Romanian Society for Vaccination Strategies and Health Promotion. Data were collected between December 3 and 23, 2025, using the CATI method (telephone interviews), with a simple stratified sample volume of 1006 individuals, and a maximum data error of ± 3.1%. The data are representative for the entire population consisting of parents in Romania who have children aged 2-18 years and grandparents in Romania who have grandchildren aged 2-18 years.

The graphical presentation of the data is available here: Sociological Research: "The Attitude of Parents and Grandparents Regarding the Vaccination of Children Against Influenza"

Surveys applied to both parents and grandparents who have one or more children or grandchildren aged 2-18 years:

Frequency of influenza illness

Respondents were asked how often they believe children get sick with influenza every winter, 9.2% of respondents (8.9% of parents, 9.6% of grandparents) say very often, 31.8% (30.8% of parents, 32.4% of grandparents) quite often, 31.1% (31.1% of parents, 30.6% of grandparents) quite rarely, and 25.3% (27.7% of parents, 23.2% of grandparents) very rarely or not at all. 2.4% of those surveyed do not know, and 0.2% do not respond.

Influenza illness in the last year

36.2% (35.5% of parents, 38.6% of grandparents) of survey participants report that their grandchildren or children have been sick with influenza in the last year. 61.7% (63.9% of parents, 57% of grandparents) say they have not been sick. 2.2% of those interviewed do not know.

Perception of the danger of influenza in children

19.7% of those interviewed (17.5% of parents, 24.2% of grandparents) believe that seasonal influenza is very dangerous for children. 56.2% (55.4% of parents, 55.2% of grandparents) think it is somewhat dangerous, 13% (15.7% of parents, 10% of grandparents) somewhat not dangerous, 7.7% not dangerous at all (8.9% of parents, 6% of grandparents). 3.3% of those surveyed do not know.

Exposure to influenza

47.3% of those surveyed (48.2% of parents, 43.2% of grandparents) believe that the most exposed to influenza are young children (between 2 and 6 years old), 13.1% (12.4% of parents, 13.6% of grandparents) students in grades 1-8, 2.6% (3.3% of parents, 2% of grandparents) teenagers, and 31.5% (31.4% of parents, 33.4% of grandparents) elderly people. 3.5% (3.3% of parents, 4.6% of grandparents) believe that all categories are equally exposed. 2% of respondents do not know.

Transmission of influenza to family

21.3% of survey participants (19.7% of parents, 24.6% of grandparents) are very concerned that a child sick with influenza could transmit the disease to adults (parents or grandparents) in the family. 50.4% (51.9% of parents, 48% of grandparents) are somewhat concerned about this, 10.8% (11.3% of parents, 10% of grandparents) somewhat unconcerned, and 16.5% (16.5% of parents, 16% of grandparents) not concerned at all. 0.8% do not know, and 0.1% do not respond.

Vaccination and prevention of health problems

78.1% of respondents (76.5% of parents, 78.6% of grandparents) believe that vaccination can prevent health problems. 15.2% (18.4% of parents, 12.2% of grandparents) disagree. 6.3% do not know, and 0.4% do not respond.

Preventing influenza through vaccination

74.5% of survey participants (71.1% of parents, 78.6% of grandparents) believe that influenza vaccination can prevent influenza. 18.3% (21.4% of parents, 14.2% of grandparents) believe it cannot be prevented. 7% do not know, and 0.3% do not respond.

Vaccination against influenza for children aged 2 to 18 years

39.2% of those surveyed (35.5% of parents, 45.6% of grandparents) have a very good opinion about the vaccination of children aged 2 to 18 years against influenza. 41.1% (41.7% of parents, 38.4% of grandparents) have a somewhat good opinion about this, 7.4% (8.8% of parents, 5.8% of grandparents) have a somewhat bad opinion, and 7.5% (9.8% of parents, 4.6% of grandparents) have a very bad opinion. 4.2% do not know and 0.5% do not respond.

Status of influenza vaccination among adults

23.1% of respondents (16.3% of parents, 31.2% of grandparents) report that they are currently vaccinated against influenza, while 76.9% (83.7% of parents, 68.8% of grandparents) respond negatively. There are no non-responses to this question.

Protecting vulnerable individuals through vaccination

75.8% of those interviewed (73.4% of parents, 79% of grandparents) believe that vaccinating children against influenza helps protect grandparents or other vulnerable individuals in the family. 18.2% (20.9% of parents, 14.4% of grandparents) believe it does not help, and 6.1% do not know.

Preventing influenza in educational institutions

69.9% of those interviewed (65.8% of parents, 77% of grandparents) believe that preventing influenza in kindergartens, schools, and high schools is very important. 22.4% (24.8% of parents, 18.2% of grandparents) consider it somewhat important, 4.3% (5.7% of parents, 2.2% of grandparents) somewhat unimportant, and 2.4% (3% of parents, 1.4% of grandparents) not important at all. 0.9% do not know, and 0.1% do not respond.

Influenza vaccination in educational institutions

When asked if they would agree that influenza vaccination for children could be carried out in kindergartens, schools, or high schools, 52.4% of respondents (44.3% of parents, 63.2% of grandparents) chose the option "definitely yes," while 23.3% (26% of parents, 19.8% of grandparents) "probably yes." 6% (8.5% of parents, 2.4% of grandparents) responded "probably no," while 15.3% (19.5% of parents, 9.6% of grandparents) - "no, under no circumstances." 2.9% do not know, and 0.2% do not respond.

Sources of information

68.3% of study participants (70.3% of parents, 66% of grandparents) report that the main source from which they usually obtain information about vaccination is the doctor. 24.7% (19.4% of parents, 30.8% of grandparents) get information from TV/radio press, 22.3% (26.3% of parents, 16.4% of grandparents) from the internet/social media, 11.3% (11.2% of parents, 11.2% of grandparents) from pharmacists, 10.1% (9.3% of parents, 11.6% of grandparents) from family members, 9.6% (9.6% of parents, 9.6% of grandparents) from health authorities, and 2.7% (3.1% of parents, 2.4% of grandparents) from other institutions or individuals. 1.2% do not know, and 0.3% do not respond.

Factors influencing the decision to vaccinate against influenza

When asked what would convince them the most to accept influenza vaccination for children, 48.8% of those surveyed (48.2% of parents, 50.8% of grandparents) specify the doctor's recommendation, 12.8% (15% of parents, 10.4% of grandparents) - the need to protect vulnerable family members, 10.9% (11.2% of parents, 10.2% of grandparents) - clear information campaigns, 9.9% (7.4% of parents, 13.2% of grandparents) - vaccination carried out directly in school, and 5.8% (4.8% of parents, 7% of grandparents) - free vaccination. 5.4% choose another reason (7.1% parents, 2.6% grandparents), 5.1% do not know, and 1.3% do not respond.

Impact on school activity

89.1% of those interviewed (86% of parents, 94.2% of grandparents) believe that influenza can seriously affect school activity (absences, academic performance), while 9.9% disagree (13% of parents, 4.8% of grandparents). 0.9% do not know, and 0.1% do not respond.

Trust in influenza vaccines

22.8% of survey participants (18.5% of parents, 30.4% of grandparents) report that they have a lot of trust in the influenza vaccines available in Romania. 42% have quite a bit of trust (41.7% of parents, 41.6% of grandparents), 13.2% have quite little trust (14.6% of parents, 10.2% of grandparents), and 17.4% have very little trust (21.1% of parents, 12.6% of grandparents). 4.6% do not know and 0.1% do not respond.

Agreement with the statement: the utility of individual vaccination

When asked to what extent they agree with the statement: "It is pointless to get vaccinated if most people around you do not," 32.4% of those surveyed say they totally agree (26.7% of parents, 41.4% of grandparents), 18.4% say they somewhat agree (17.7% of parents, 20.4% of grandparents), while 12.1% are somewhat opposed (14.6% of parents, 8% of grandparents) and 33.2% totally oppose (37.9% of parents, 25.4% of grandparents). 3.9% do not know or do not respond.

Agreement with the statement: perception of the severity of influenza

22.2% of respondents (17.7% of parents, 29.4% of grandparents) totally agree with the statement "Influenza is a trivial disease that passes easily," while 26.3% somewhat agree (27% of parents, 25% of grandparents). 19.7% are somewhat opposed to this statement (22.2% of parents, 15% of grandparents), and 28.7% totally oppose (31% of parents, 26.2% of grandparents). The proportion of non-responses is 3.2%.

Agreement with the statement: post-vaccination vulnerability

The statement "By getting vaccinated against influenza, children can more easily get sick with other diseases" meets the total agreement of 23.8% of those surveyed (20.8% of parents, 29% of grandparents). 14.8% somewhat agree with the statement (14.7% of parents, 15% of grandparents), 12.6% are somewhat opposed (14.1% of parents, 9.6% of grandparents), and 39.4% are totally opposed (43.7% of parents, 33% of grandparents). 9.4% do not know or do not respond.

Agreement with the statement: serious adverse reactions in children

When asked to what extent they agree with the statement: "Influenza vaccines can cause serious adverse reactions in children," 29% of those interviewed say they totally agree (31.7% of parents, 25.2% of grandparents), 28% somewhat agree (27.2% of parents, 29.2% of grandparents), while 14.8% are somewhat opposed (16.1% of parents, 12% of grandparents) and 17.8% totally oppose (17% of parents, 20.2% of grandparents). The proportion of non-responses is 10.4%.

Agreement with the statement: the possibility of getting sick after vaccination

45.2% of respondents totally agree with the statement "Vaccinated children can still get influenza" (48.8% of parents, 41.6% of grandparents), while 32.7% somewhat agree (33.4% of parents, 31.4% of grandparents). 8.5% are somewhat opposed (7.6% of parents, 8.8% of grandparents), and 8.4% totally oppose (6.4% of parents, 11.6% of grandparents). 5.2% do not know or do not respond.

Agreement with the statement: the necessity of vaccination in healthy children

The statement "Healthy children do not need the influenza vaccine" meets the total agreement of 30.5% of survey participants (29.1% of parents, 33.4% of grandparents). 16.9% somewhat agree (18% of parents, 15.6% of grandparents), 14.2% are somewhat opposed (15.8% of parents, 11% of grandparents), and 35.4% are totally opposed (35.1% of parents, 36% of grandparents). The proportion of non-responses is 3%.

Agreement with the statement: prevention through vaccination

When asked to what extent they agree with the statement: "Vaccines can prevent serious complications of influenza," 58.3% of those interviewed say they totally agree (57.3% of parents, 60.8% of grandparents), 22.6% say they somewhat agree (24.5% of parents, 18.6% of grandparents), while 5% are somewhat opposed (5.9% of parents, 3.6% of grandparents) and 10.1% totally oppose (9.2% of parents, 11.4% of grandparents). 4% do not know or do not respond.

Surveys applied only to parents who have one or more children aged 2-18 years:

The doctor's recommendation for vaccination

54.3% of interviewed parents report that they have received direct recommendations from a doctor in the past for their child to be vaccinated against influenza. 44.8% say they have not, 0.6% do not know, and 0.3% do not respond.

Probability of vaccinating the child against influenza

40% of surveyed parents say it is very likely that they will vaccinate their child against influenza in the future. 22.6% declare that it is somewhat likely, 13% quite unlikely, and 23.1% very unlikely or not at all likely. 1.1% do not know, and 0.1% do not respond.

Vulnerability of the elderly to influenza illness

73% of surveyed parents believe that older individuals who interact with their children (grandparents, family members, friends) could suffer more severe complications if they get sick with influenza. 23.2% do not believe this, 3.5% do not know, and 0.3% do not respond.

Intention to vaccinate against influenza after being informed

When asked how likely they would be to vaccinate their child against influenza in the future, in a situation where they would have more information about the vulnerability of elderly individuals who interact with them, 47.9% of parents stated that it would be very likely, 22.5% somewhat likely, 8.5% quite unlikely, and 19.9% responded that it would be very unlikely. 0.8% do not know, and 0.3% do not respond.

Surveys applied only to grandparents who have one or more grandchildren aged 2-18 years:

Frequency of discussions about children between parents and grandparents

35.2% of interviewed grandparents discuss very often with the parents of the children about health and vaccination. 41.2% of them discuss occasionally, 14.2% rarely, while 9% never talk about this subject. 0.2% do not know, and 0.2% do not respond.

Grandparents' perception of safety in the context of influenza vaccination for grandchildren

78.4% of interviewed grandparents express agreement with the statement: "If my grandchildren were vaccinated against influenza, I would feel safer because the risk of both my grandchildren and I contracting influenza would be lower." 13.8% choose the option: "If my grandchildren were vaccinated against influenza, I would feel less safe because influenza vaccines do not help and have side effects." 7.2% do not know, and 0.6% do not respond.