Racial disparities related to the perception of COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness among parents of children aged 0–12 years old in Canada

Vaccine hesitancy, particularly among racialized communities, persists due to misinformation, medical mistrust, and systemic barriers. This study examines racial disparities and key determinants related to perceptions of COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness in Canadian parents from Arab, Asian, Black, Indigenous, White and mixed-race communities. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among a representative sample of 2,528 Canadian parents of children aged 0–12 years (57.5% women). Participants completed a survey assessing conspiracy beliefs, health literacy, major experiences of racial discrimination, and perceptions of COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness. The mean COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness perception score was 19.57 (SD = 5.32). ANOVA showed significant differences by race (<i>F</i> = 5.15, <i>p</i> &lt; .001), with Asian (M = 21.41, SD = 4.12) and Indigenous parents (M = 21.42, SD = 4.85) reporting higher scores than White, Black, and Arab ones. Regression analyses indicated that conspiracy beliefs negatively predicted vaccine effectiveness perception (β = −0.05, <i>p</i> &lt; .001), while health literacy had a positive association (β = .19, <i>p</i> &lt; .001). Major racial discrimination was negatively associated but became non-significant after adjusting for conspiracy beliefs. Vaccine effectiveness perception varies across racial groups. Higher health literacy and prior vaccination enhance perceptions, while conspiracy beliefs undermine them. Addressing misinformation and tailoring public health strategies to diverse parental experiences – particularly among younger parents and marginalized groups – will strengthen vaccine confidence.