Author summary Dengue infection remains a significant global health challenge, particularly affecting children in endemic regions like Thailand. While vaccines offer a crucial tool for prevention, their impact depends heavily on public acceptance. This study explores Thai parents’ understanding and attitudes towards dengue vaccination, using the established 4C model to identify influencing factors. We found that despite a general awareness of dengue and vaccine availability, many parents lacked detailed knowledge about the vaccine’s specifics, such as its complex recommendations, effectiveness, or cost. Crucially, a sense of complacency regarding dengue’s threat emerged as the strongest factor influencing vaccine acceptance. Interestingly, even parents working as healthcare providers showed lower vaccination intentions for their own children. These findings are vital for both scientists and the public, including a countrywide policy for vaccine implementation in the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI). They illuminate key barriers to vaccine uptake in a real-world setting, suggesting that effective public health campaigns, especially healthcare providers’ advice, must go beyond basic information provision. By understanding specific concerns, addressing financial barriers, and countering complacency, public health initiatives can be better tailored to increase dengue vaccine acceptance, ultimately enhancing disease control and improving child health in affected communities.
Introduction
Dengue infection is caused by the Dengue virus (DENV), which is transmitted by the Aedes mosquito. There are four DENV serotypes that are antigenically similar yet distinct from one another (DENV1, DENV2, DENV3, and DENV4). Patients with… [35216 chars]
Source: PLOS (Public Library of Science) | Published: 2026-01-20T00:00:00Z
Credit: PLOS (Public Library of Science)
