COVID‐19 Vaccine Uptake Rates and Associated Factors in Racially Diverse Parents in Canada: The Threat From Conspiracy Beliefs and Racial Discrimination

Although vaccination is a well-recognized illness prevention strategy in medicine, vaccine uptake remains inconsistent in racialized and Indigenous communities in North America. Given that vaccination decisions in children are largely mediated by their parents' beliefs and values, this study aimed to examine vaccination rates and associated factors among parents of children aged 0-12 years from various racial groups in Canada. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023, involving a nationally representative sample of 2528 parents of children aged 0-12 years across Canada (57.52% women). Vaccine uptake prevalence rate was 86.39% among the participants. We observed significant differences in vaccination prevalence for racialized parents, χ² (6) = 32.65, p < 0.001. Overall, Asian parents had the highest vaccine uptake (95.49%), compared to Arab (89.29%), White (85.59%), Other (84.33%), Black (84.33%) and Indigenous (83.13%) parents. Lowest COVID-19 vaccination rates were found for mixed racial group parents (77.01%). Conspiracy beliefs (β = -0.19, p < 0.001) and everyday experiences of racial discrimination (White vs. Racialized groups, β = -0.09, p = 0.037) were negatively associated with vaccine uptake. This study offers a novel regard on parent beliefs and behaviors regarding vaccination, disaggregated by various racial groups. While vaccination remains a cornerstone of public health, our findings reveal disparities that extend beyond access, reflecting deeper societal influences. Variations in uptake across racial groups, shaped by trust and lived experiences, underscore the need for inclusive strategies that foster confidence and engagement in immunization efforts.