A Latent Profile Analysis of COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccine Hesitancy among Economically Marginalized Hispanic Mothers of Children under Five Years of Age in the US

Rates of COVID-19 and influenza vaccine coverage among Hispanic young children continue to be low in comparison to other racial and ethnic groups in the United States.

This study utilized a person-centered approach to understand COVID-19 and influenza vaccination hesitancy for young children under the age of five among 309 economically marginalized Hispanic mothers.

Drawing on the cultural health belief model, in 2022, following FDA approval of the COVID-19 vaccine for young children, a latent profile analysis was conducted from which three profiles emerged.

The Low Acculturation group (Profile 1), was notable for lower acculturation, moderate cultural medical mistrust, lower access to vaccines, and higher financial security.

Compared to Profile 1, the two remaining profiles had higher acculturation and lower levels of financial security, but differed in that the High Acculturation group (Profile 2) had higher vaccine accessibility and the Moderate Acculturation group (Profile 3) had higher cultural medical mistrust.

Relative to other profiles, Low Acculturation mothers were more likely to plan to vaccinate their child against current and seasonal COVID-19 and seasonal influenza, report that their child’s health provider recommended the COVID-19 shot and reported lower COVID-19 and influenza vaccine mistrust.

However, they also reported lower vaccine accessibility and moderate levels of cultural medical mistrust.

The study highlights the importance of developing person-centered public health strategies that draw on Hispanic cultural values and consider diversity within lower income Hispanic populations to increase future pediatric COVID-19 and flu vaccination coverage among young Hispanic children.