Opinions of Quebec parents and vaccinators on the usefulness of chickenpox vaccine.

Background: A chickenpox vaccine was recently licensed in Canada. Because this vaccine has caused some controversy within the health care profession, studies among Quebec parents and vaccine providers were carried out, surveying their opinions concerning chickenpox vaccination.

Methods: Three studies among parents of preadolescents, parents of two-year-old children completely or incompletely vaccinated and vaccinators were completed. The studies asked for opinions concerning the usefulness of vaccinating children against chickenpox.

Results: The majority of parents of preadolescents (56%), and parents of two-year-old children completely (64%) and incompletely vaccinated (60%) favoured chickenpox vaccination. Among vaccinators, 53% of paediatricians, 37% of general practitioners and 33% of nurses considered universal vaccination of young children to be useful. A greater proportion of health care professionals were in favour of a policy of vaccinating groups at risk, such as susceptible adolescents (86%, 75% and 58%, respectively). There was a positive association between the perceived severity of chickenpox and the potential usefulness of the vaccine.

Conclusion: Quebec parents are more favourably disposed to chickenpox vaccine than vaccine providers. In contrast, strategies targeting susceptible groups would be generally well received by health care professionals. A considerable amount of work will be needed to convince vaccinators of the benefits of a universal childhood vaccination against chickenpox.