title: Vaccination against serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis: Perceptions and attitudes of parents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A vaccine against serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis, major cause of bacterial meningitis in children and adults, has recently been developed. In a context of an increasing parental mistrust against vaccinations, understanding the reason for their choices is crucial in order to improve immunization coverage. Our study aimed at evaluating parental attitudes and perceptions towards serogroup B meningococcal invasive disease vaccination.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective observational study was conducted in different French independent-practice medical offices (general practitioners and paediatricians) and nurseries between May 1 and December 31, 2013, using a questionnaire distributed in electronic and paper forms to parents having at least one child between the ages of 2 months and 16 years old.
  
  
  RESULTS
  1270 parents were included, of whom 671 (52.8%) spontaneously stated to be in favour of this vaccination. Their choice was mainly justified by the severity of the disease (63.8%) and the desire to protect their child (51.7%). In multivariate analysis, the young age of parents (OR 0.949 per additional year; p<10(-3)), the history of vaccination against serogroup C meningococcal invasive diseases (OR 6.755; p<10(-3)), and the prior knowledge of the vaccine (OR 2.081; p=0.001) were associated with vaccination acceptance. The main reasons for refusal were the lack of hindsight on this new vaccine (50.6%) and the fear of side effects (45.5%). After objective information on the disease and the vaccine, only 6.3% of the entire responding population would refuse to consider vaccination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The spontaneous acceptance rate of vaccination against serogroup B meningococcal invasive disease is insufficient. However, after objective information by their physician or public health authorities, only a few parents would in the end be completely resistant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France; Department of General Medicine, Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Le Ngoc Tho
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France; INSERM U1111, International Centre for Research in Infectiology, Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ader
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France; INSERM U1111, International Centre for Research in Infectiology, Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Tristan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ferry
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Department of Emergency and Intensive Care, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France; Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Floret
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgery Unit, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Maximilien
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arnal
authors.affiliation: Department of General Medicine, Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fargeas
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France; INSERM U1111, International Centre for Research in Infectiology, Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chidiac
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France; INSERM U1111, International Centre for Research in Infectiology, Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University, Lyon, France. Electronic address: florent.valour@chu-lyon.fr.
authors.forename: Florent
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Valour
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D038541:Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup B / Q000276:immunology*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Acceptance; Serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis; Vaccination