Foundational Focus Groups

Parents of Children 6 Months to Under 5 Years Old Focus Group Screener

Notes to Recruiters

• Recruit 8 to seat 4-6

• 18 focus groups with vaccinated parents of children 6 months to under 5 years old

  • 6 focus groups with vaccinated parents who say they will get their child vaccinated as soon as vaccines are authorized and available to them

    • 3 focus groups with parents of children 6 months – under 2 years old

      • 1 Black/African American (B/AA), 1 Hispanic/Latino (English), 1 gen pop

    • 3 focus groups with parents of children ages 2–4  

      • 1 B/AA, 1 Hispanic/Latino (English), 1 gen pop 

  • 12 focus groups with vaccinated parents who say they will wait to get their child vaccinated once vaccines are authorized and available to them

    • 6 focus groups with parents of children 6 months–under 2 years old

      • 2 B/AA, 2 Hispanic/Latino (English), 2 gen pop

    • 6 focus groups with parents of children ages 2–4

      • 2 B/AA, 2 Hispanic/Latino (English), 2 gen pop

• Do not include anyone who participated in the in-depth interviews for parents of children 6 months to under 5 years of age.

• Please terminate as soon as someone fails to meet an inclusion criterion.

• Please ensure a mix of children ages within the 6-month-to-under-5-year-old group.

• Mix of children ages, gender, race/ethnicity, political ideology, SES, geographic area, education level, etc.

• Please ensure a mix of child vaccination likelihood (Q16) and limit the number of participants who select “somewhat unlikely” to no more than 1 in a focus group.

Screener

Hello, my name is [INSERT NAME] from [INSERT FACILITY NAME], a market research firm. We are recruiting for an upcoming study that will collect feedback about COVID-19. This is not a sales call of any kind. I am only calling to see if you or an eligible member of your household has an interest in participating in a 2-hour focus group that will be conducted virtually for which you would receive a $100 incentive. I have a few questions I need to ask to see if you are qualified for this study. You don’t have to answer any question that you don’t want to answer. 

1. Are you interested in seeing if you or anyone in your household qualifies to participate in this focus group? [ACCEPT ONLY 1 PER HOUSEHOLD] 

   Yes	[  ]	> CONTINUE
   No	[  ]	> TERMINATE

2. In the past 5 years, have you or a member of your immediate family worked in any of the following fields, companies, or organizations? 

   Market or public opinion research	[  ]	> TERMINATE
   An advertising, public relations, or marketing agency	[  ]	> TERMINATE
   News, radio, TV, print, media	[  ]	> TERMINATE
   For the U.S. Federal government	[  ]	> TERMINATE
   As a health care provider or medical professional (e.g., physician, nurse)	[  ]	> Terminate
   At a health care company	[  ]	> CONTINUE
   Construction, repair, and maintenance	[  ]	> CONTINUE
   Finance	[  ]	> CONTINUE
   None of these	[  ]	> CONTINUE

3. In order to participate, you need to have a desktop or laptop computer or a smartphone with an internet connection. You will also need to consent to be recorded during the focus group. Will you be able to meet both of these requirements? 

   Yes	[  ]	> CONTINUE
   No	[  ]	> TERMINATE

4. Would you be willing and able to participate in this study via a webcam or smartphone camera? 

   Yes	[  ]	> CONTINUE
   No	[  ]	> TERMINATE

5. What is your sex? 

   Male	[  ]	> CONTINUE
   Female	[  ]	> CONTINUE
   Prefer to self-describe (specify)	[  ]	> CONTINUE

6. What is your age? _______________ [RECORD VERBATIM] 

Note to recruitment: Participants must be 18 years or older.

7. Are you a parent or guardian of a child under the age of 18? 

   Yes	[  ]	> CONTINUE
   No	[  ]	> TERMINATE

8. Have you received all required doses of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine? That is, have you received two doses of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine?

   Yes	[  ]	> CONTINUE
   No	[  ]	> TERMINATE

9. When you became eligible for a vaccine, how long did you wait before getting the first (or only) shot?

   I got it right away	[ ]	> CONTINUE
   I chose to wait to get vaccinated for one or more reasons	[ ]	> CONTINUE

10. U.S. health officials and medical experts now recommend COVID-19 vaccine booster shots for people 5 months after their second dose of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) or 2 months after their dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Have you received a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot?

    Yes	[  ]	> CONTINUE TO Q12
    No	[  ]	> CONTINUE TO Q11

11. What is the likelihood that you will get a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot?

Very unlikely	[ ]	> CONTINUE
Somewhat unlikely	[ ]	> CONTINUE
Neither likely nor unlikely	[ ]	> CONTINUE
Somewhat likely	[ ]	> CONTINUE
Very likely	[ ]	> CONTINUE

12. Please provide the ages of each of your children. _______________ [RECORD VERBATIM, TERMINATE IF NO CHILDREN ARE 6 MONTHS TO UNDER 5 YEARS OLD] Note to recruitment: At least one child must be 6 months to under 5 years old. Record age for all children. If there is more than one child 6 months to under 5 years old in the household for whom respondent is a guardian, ask respondent whose birthday is next. Use this child for Q14-Q19.

13. Who makes your child(ren)’s primary health-related decisions? Select all that apply. 

    You	[  ]	> CONTINUE
    Someone else	[  ]	> TERMINATE
    You and someone else	[  ]	> CONTINUE
    Other:____	[  ]	> TERMINATE IF “YOU” IS NOT ALSO SELECTED

14. Has your child who is under the age of 5 participated in a COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial? 

    Yes	[  ]	> TERMINATE
    No	[  ]	> CONTINUE

15. What is the likelihood you will get your child who is under the age of 5 vaccinated when they are eligible? [RECRUIT A MIX]

    Very unlikely	[ ]	> TERMINATE
    Somewhat unlikely	[ ]	> CONTINUE
    Neither likely nor unlikely	[ ]	> CONTINUE
    Somewhat likely	[ ]	> CONTINUE
    Very likely	[ ]	> CONTINUE

16. Once they become eligible, what would make you more likely to get a COVID-19 vaccine for your child under the age of 5? [RECRUIT A MIX]

More testing and research becomes available	[ ]	> CONTINUE
It becomes convenient for me to schedule an appointment	[ ]	> CONTINUE
My pediatrician recommends it	[ ]	> CONTINUE
Financial incentives are offered	[ ]	> CONTINUE
Vaccination is mandated in my area	[ ]	> CONTINUE
I am already planning to get my child vaccinated when they become eligible	[ ]	> CONTINUE
Other:____	[ ]	> CONTINUE
Nothing will make me more likely	[ ]	> TERMINATE

Note to recruitment: Please record verbatim what they say for “other.”

17. Children ages 5 and older are now eligible to take U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-authorized vaccines to prevent COVID-19. As the FDA and CDC review clinical trial data, younger children could also become eligible. Once they are eligible, how soon will your child under the age of 5 get a COVID-19 vaccine?

    I will get my child vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as they are eligible	[ ]	> CONTINUE to q19
    Once they are eligible, I will still wait to get my child vaccinated against COVID-19 for one or more reasons	[ ]	> CONTINUE to q18
    I will never get my child vaccinated against COVID-19	[ ]	> TERMINATE

18. You responded that you will wait to get your child under the age of 5 vaccinated against COVID-19. How long will you wait after the vaccine is authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for children under 5? [RECRUIT A MIX]

    0–3 months	[ ]	> CONTINUE
    4–6 months	[ ]	> CONTINUE
    7–11 months	[ ]	> CONTINUE
    1 year to less than 3 years	[ ]	> CONTINUE
    3 years or more	[ ]	> TERMINATE

19. Has your child who is older than 5 received a COVID-19 vaccine? [ASK ONLY FOR THOSE WHO ALSO HAVE A 5 TO UNDER 18-YEAR-OLD]

    No, my child has not received a COVID-19 vaccine	[  ]	> CONTINUE
    Yes, my child has had at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine	[  ]	> CONTINUE

20. Are you of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin? 

    Yes	[  ]	> CONTINUE
    No	[  ]	> CONTINUE

21. What is your race? Please select all that apply. 

    American Indian or Alaska Native	[  ]	> CONTINUE
    Asian	[  ]	> CONTINUE
    Black or African American	[  ]	> CONTINUE
    Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander	[ ]	> CONTINUE
    White/Caucasian	[ ]	> CONTINUE
    Prefer not to say/Refuse to answer	[ ]	> CONTINUE

22. In what city and state do you live?    

CITY: ________________       STATE:_____________________ 

Note to recruitment: Recruit a mix of locations. 

23. What is the highest level of school you have completed? [RECRUIT A MIX, PLEASE TRY TO ENSURE A ROBUST REPRESENTATION OF PARTICIPANTS BELOW A BACHELOR’S DEGREE]

    Some high school or less (no diploma)	[  ]	> CONTINUE
    High school diploma or equivalent (GED)	[  ]	> CONTINUE
    Some college, no degree	[  ]	> CONTINUE
    Associate degree	[  ]	> CONTINUE
    Bachelor’s degree	[  ]	> CONTINUE
    Master’s degree	[  ]	> CONTINUE
    Professional or doctorate degree	[  ]	> CONTINUE

24. Which of the following best describes you? Please select all that apply. [RECRUIT A MIX] 

    Employed full time	[  ]	> CONTINUE
    Employed part time	[  ]	> CONTINUE
    Self-employed	[  ]	> CONTINUE
    Not employed, but looking for work	[  ]	> CONTINUE
    Not employed, and not looking for work	[  ]	> CONTINUE
    Stay-at-home parent/guardian	[  ]	> CONTINUE
    Student	[  ]	> CONTINUE
    Retired	[  ]	> CONTINUE

25. In 2021, what was your total household income from all sources, before taxes? [RECRUIT A MIX, ENSURE ROBUST REPRESENTATION OF <$50K] 

    Less than $15,000	[  ]	> CONTINUE
    $15,000 to $24,999	[  ]	> CONTINUE
    $25,000 to $34,999	[  ]	> CONTINUE
    $35,000 to $49,999	[  ]	> CONTINUE
    $50,000 to $74,999	[  ]	> CONTINUE
    $75,000 to $99,999	[  ]	> CONTINUE
    $100,000 to $149,999	[  ]	> CONTINUE
    $150,000 to $199,999	[  ]	> CONTINUE
    $200,000 and over	[  ]	> CONTINUE
    Don’t know/Refused	[  ]	> CONTINUE

26. In general, do you think of yourself as…? [RECRUIT A MIX.] 

Extremely liberal	[  ]	> CONTINUE
Liberal	[  ]	> CONTINUE
Slightly liberal	[  ]	> CONTINUE
Moderate, middle of the road	[  ]	> CONTINUE
Slightly conservative	[  ]	> CONTINUE
Conservative	[  ]	> CONTINUE
Extremely conservative	[  ]	> CONTINUE

Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions. We will be in touch with additional information on the study. The virtual focus group will last no longer than 2 hours. Thank you again for your time, and we will send additional information soon. 

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