Key qualitative findings – childhood influenza vaccination

This page provides a summary of parents' free-text responses to optional questions included in the 2025 national survey – childhood vaccination barriers in Australia on childhood influenza vaccination.

We have divided this information into the following categories:

• Reasons why parents found vaccinating their child against influenza easy
• Reasons why parents found vaccinating their child against influenza difficult

Reasons why parents found vaccinating their child against influenza easy

Thinking/feeling reasons

• Positive thoughts and feelings about childhood influenza vaccination (vaccine being protective, needed, important)

‘I believe it does help with the symptoms even when someone gets the flu, the symptoms are not as bad as others who haven't had the vaccination.’

• Desire to protect the child and the community from influenza (personal protection/perceived risk)

‘My child attends daycare so I thought it was best to have her as protected as possible when around a lot of other children. I am also undergoing medical treatment so I wanted my child to stay as healthy as possible and hopefully not get the flu and then give it to me!’

• Having gone through severe influenza disease in the past and wanting to avoid it

‘Our family got flu A in May this year and my youngest child was hospitalised for 4 nights.’

• Being part of the family’s routine/norm around vaccination

‘Part of normal planning to protect our health.’

• Vaccine knowledge (e.g. information about flu season, vaccine eligibility)
• Parent would feel guilty if the unvaccinated child became very sick

‘Because I wouldn’t have forgiven myself if they got the flu when I could get them vaccinated.’

• Reporting a moral obligation/social responsibility to vaccinate

‘Just feels like it's the right thing to do.’

Social influence reasons

• Hearing information in the media about the influenza season
• Receiving a recommendation to vaccinate from one’s doctor

‘If it is recommended I will get them vaccinated.’

Practical reasons

• Receiving a reminder to vaccinate their child
• No costs associated with vaccinating their child
• Being offered influenza vaccination for the child opportunistically (at another medical appointment or as part of other vaccination)

‘If we are offered it when they are getting their other vaccinations then we would get it, however I don’t think it is one that we would go out of our way to organise for him to get.’

• Vaccination being required by some daycare facilities

Reasons why parents found vaccinating their child against influenza difficult

Thinking/feeling reasons

• Low perceived risk of exposure or of the child becoming seriously ill (in particular, when child does not attend daycare)

‘As my child is home I’m not sure he needs it so young.’

• Questioning the importance and/or usefulness of influenza vaccination – the vaccine not being perceived to be part of the regular vaccination schedule
• Concerns about children receiving too many vaccines

‘I just don't think it is the most necessary vaccine and they already get so many.’

• Negative thoughts and feelings about safety and effectiveness of influenza vaccination

‘I don’t believe the vaccine is effective enough to outweigh the risks of over vaccination. Plus the strain of flu changes yearly and the vaccine doesn’t always cover the most recent strain. Also, the antibodies don’t last long enough for me to find it worth it.’

‘Bigger risk of getting sick from vaccine.’

• Concerns that influenza vaccination can make you sick

‘It does not stop you from getting the flu and studies have actually shown an increased risk of respiratory illness after having a flu vaccine.’

• Low trust in research and influenza vaccine recommendations

‘There is little evidence to show it stops infection or transmission but there is great evidence to show vaccines are harmful for us.’

• Vaccinating against influenza is not a family norm 
• Preference for child developing natural immunity over vaccination

Social influence reasons

• Influenza vaccine isn’t mandatory

‘I don't want my child to have any vaccine unless it is mandatory.’

• Not receiving a recommendation to vaccinate child against influenza

‘Her father and I don't think it's needed. I've spoken to pharmacists etc they also don't think their children need it.’

Practical reasons

• Lack of time and/or inconvenient to organise
• Unsure if vaccine is available/in stock

‘I didn’t get any communication from our main medical centre that they had the vaccines available.’

• Costs associated with influenza vaccination

‘The costs involved make it a lower priority.’

• Did not remember to vaccinate the child
• Not being offered influenza vaccination for the child opportunistically (at another medical appointment or as part of other vaccination)

‘Wasn't on the schedule or offered.’

Back to free-text survey responses