New Poll Shows Latino Parents Need Additional Support When Choosing to Vaccinate Children for COVID-19

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WASHINGTON, DC— As the holiday season approaches, UnidosUS, the nation’s largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization, released a new poll on Latino parents. The poll was conducted by BSP Research and focused on parent experiences with the pandemic, parent decisions to vaccinate themselves or their children, trusted information sources and specific COVID-19-related concerns among parents with children 18 and under.  

“The results of this survey make clear that concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic are still very much on Latino parents’ minds,” said UnidosUS Vice President of Health, Rita Carreón. “It is essential that state and federal governments, providers and employers provide additional COVID-19 resources and education for Latino parents as we transition from a pandemic to the endemic phase of this virus. Sustainable funding is needed for testing, vaccination clinics, paid sick leave, and amplifying cultural-relevant mental health resources.” 

“These survey results give us insight into the real and significant concerns Latino parents face,” said Dr. Sylvia Manzano Vice President of Operations at BSP Research. “The poll results can help us make recommendations to policymakers that will have a real impact on the health and well-being of our Latino community.” “We must address the outstanding social and economic concerns that are affecting the mental and physical health of our community,” said Edward Garza, CEO of the Mexican American Council. “This poll gives us the insight to focus our attention on areas that will have a real impact on a local level.” 

Among other findings, the results show that more outreach and education must be done to address Latino parents’ concerns about COVID-19: 

  • Latino parents remain worried about COVID‐19 risks to health. 
  • In total, 56% said they are equally or more worried than they were a year ago about their family’s health being affected by COVID‐19.  
  • The concern about children getting seriously sick due to COVID‐19 remains especially high: More than 80% of parents are worried that their young children and their children aged 12‐18 will become seriously ill. 
  • Significant concern about COVID-19 threats to health persists.  
  • Over the past year, most Latino parents (66%) reported feeling anxious or low due to the pandemic. Similarly, 61% say their children have also felt this way and/or fallen behind in school in the past year. 
  • Similarly, 61% said that their children had dealt with academic, social, or emotional issues over the past year due to the pandemic. Among parents of 12 to 18-year‐olds, that number jumped to 67%, with 46% saying their kids experienced two or more of these stressors. 
  • Latino parents believe several solutions could help make getting vaccines easier. 
  • 55% said financial assistance for parents to replace lost income when taking time off work for vaccinations or dealing with side effects would help a great deal 
  • 52% agree that flexible hours at vaccine locations would help a great deal to make getting vaccinations easier 
  • Latino parents with younger children report getting much less information from doctors and health care providers about COVID‐19 vaccines for their children. 
  • Only 36% of parents with children 6 months to 4 years old said their doctor or health care provider strongly recommended vaccinating their child. And only 52% of those with 5- to 11-year‐olds received that advice. 
  • In contrast, 60% of those with 12- to 15-year‐olds and 64% of those with 16-to-18-year olds said their providers strongly recommended COVID‐19 vaccines for their children. 

You can view a recording of a virtual press briefing on the poll here.  

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About the survey 

Total N=3,100 Latino parents with children in target age groups:

  • 6 months-4yrs (N=1,149), 5-11yrs (N=1,469), 12-15yrs (N=1,212), 16-18yrs (N=1,039)
  • Non-citizens (N=451), Households that are non-citizen or mixed status (N=701)
  • Overall survey margin of error (+/- 1.8%)

States

  • N=700 per state in: Arizona, California, Florida, Texas (+/- 3.7%)
  • Within state minimum 200 per age group (6 months-4yrs, 5-11yrs, 12-15yrs, 16-18yrs)

Field Dates: August 12 – 25, 2022
English or Spanish, according to preference
Mixed mode: 75% online, 25% live telephone interviews

About UnidosUS

UnidosUS, previously known as NCLR (National Council of La Raza), is the nation’s largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization. Through its unique combination of expert research, advocacy, programs, and an Affiliate Network of nearly 300 community-based organizations across the United States and Puerto Rico, UnidosUS simultaneously challenges the social, economic, and political barriers that affect Latinos at the national and local levels. For more than 50 years, UnidosUS has united communities and different groups seeking common ground through collaboration, and that share a desire to make our country stronger. For more information on UnidosUS, visit unidosus.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

About BSP Research

For the past 20 years, BSP Research has helped political, corporate and community-based organizations understand a diverse America, and craft the best messages to communicate. Our process is designed to work with you, solicit your input, so we can empower your organization with the specific and customized messages, data and tools needed to succeed. Our team deeply understands the diversity that is America today.

About Mexican American Council

The Mexican American Council is nonprofit 501(c)(3) whose mission is to ensure that every farmworker child is provided access to a quality education, the arts, and technology for a brighter future in South Florida. MAC received the 2022 UnidosUS Helen Rodriguez-Trias Health Award for showing exemplary dedication to addressing health issues during the pandemic. Since 2021, MAC partnered with UnidosUS as a part of the COVID-19 and Flu vaccination awareness campaign “Esperanza Hope for All.” This innovative educational campaign addressed misinformation and created partnerships with local health organizations to ensure the community had equitable access to vaccinations. MAC headquarters are in Homestead, FL. For more information, visit www.mexamcouncil.org.