Social Impact of COVID-19 Survey August 2020: The Reopening of Schools

The flu vaccine will be available free to children aged between two and twelve this year.  Parents and guardians of pre-school and primary school children were asked the likelihood of them availing of the free flu vaccine for their children.  Parents and guardians of all school going children were also asked the likelihood of them availing of a COVID-19 vaccine if one were to become available.  Respondents could answer “Not at all likely to avail of”, “Somewhat unlikely to avail of”, “Somewhat likely to avail of”, “Very likely to avail of”, and “Don’t know”.

Almost one in two (47.2%) respondents who are parents or guardians of pre-school and primary school children said they would be Very likely to avail of the free flu vaccine for their children this winter with 13.2% saying they would be Not at all likely to avail of the free flu vaccine for their children.  See Table 5.1 and Figure 5.1.

Two in three (66.2%) respondents who are parents or guardians of school going children reported being Very likely or Somewhat likely to avail of a COVID-19 vaccine for their children if it were to become available.  One in five (20.1%) reported being Somewhat unlikely or Not at all likely to avail of it.

The likelihood of parents and guardians availing of a COVID-19 vaccine for their children increases with the highest level of education attained by the parent or guardian. More than four in ten (45.6%) respondents who had completed a third level bachelor’s degree or higher reported being Very likely to avail of a COVID-19 vaccine for their children compared to 35.8% who had completed higher secondary or lower.  See Table 5.2 and Figure 5.2.