Willingness of Caregivers to Have Their Children Vaccinated with Pneumococcal Vaccines in the Context of an Innovative Immunization Strategy — Weifang City, Shandong Province, 2021

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS TOPIC? Pneumococcal diseases (PDs) pose a serious health threat to children. Vaccination is the most cost-effective intervention to prevent PDs, but pneumococcal vaccines coverage among children is low in China. WHAT IS ADDED BY THIS REPORT? This study investigated the willingness of children’s caregivers to have their children vaccinated with pneumococcal vaccines under an innovative policy to offer 1-dose of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines at no charge to families. The research found that 70.51% of caregivers were willing to have their infants receive pneumococcal vaccines and that reducing the cost of vaccines may increase caregivers’ willingness. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE? This is the first evaluation in China of acceptance of pneumococcal vaccines among children under a 1-dose, cost-free policy. The results provide scientific evidence for updating local and national pneumococcal immunization strategies to promote the use of the pneumococcal vaccine.