Relationship Between Sexual Attitude and Sexual Function Among Iranian Women and Men During Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) had an estimated mortality rate of 14.83 million deaths worldwide in 2020 and 2021 []. On December 11, 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration granted an emergency-use authorization for the country’s first COVID-19 vaccine for adults []. Within 7 months, nearly 80% of the US population had received at least one dose, and within the first year, these vaccines had prevented an estimated 14.4 million deaths globally []. On October 29th, 2021, children over 5 years old became eligible for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine under emergency use authorization []. Despite this success, the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out faced skepticism and concern about worsening health disparities. Racial and ethnic minoritized individuals in the US, who were more likely to be hospitalized and die from COVID-19 compared to White individuals [], were also more vaccine hesitant and less likely to receive the vaccine. [–] Although these disparities have decreased over time among adults [], by May 2023, only about one-third (32.9%) of children aged 5–11 had been vaccinated, [] with particularly low rates among Black and Hispanic populations (8% and 21.7%, respectively). [] Public health efforts to improve vaccination rates and reduce disparities in adults have not been as effective in children, who experienced more difficulty accessing vaccination, communication barriers, and hesitancy around vaccination []. Parental decision making around childhood COVID-19 vaccination may also be shaped by the perception that children are at lower risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes, reducing the perceived urgency of vaccination and contributing to hesitancy []. As of 2025–2026, U.S. guidance recommends COVID-19 vaccination for children through shared clinical decision-making between caregivers and healthcare providers, rather than a routine requirement, highlighting the ongoing importance of understanding factors that influence vaccine acceptance and persistent disparities among minoritized families. Additionally, understanding the experiences of minoritized families with the COVID-19 vaccine and their perspectives on policies that led to improved vaccine uptake among adults will better inform future equitable vaccination efforts. We sought to understand vaccine acceptance, hesitancy, and decision-making by interviewing minoritized caregivers of school-aged children. Through this research, we aim to develop a framework for targeted public health strategies that promote equitable vaccine distribution and acceptance in these communities.