Public Willingness and Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccination at the Initial Stage of Mass Vaccination in China

The present study assessed the willingness of the general population to receive COVID-19 vaccines and identified factors that influence vaccine hesitancy and resistance. A national online survey was conducted from 29 January 2021 to 26 April 2021 in China. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors that influence vaccine hesitancy and resistance. Of the 34,041 participants surveyed, 18,810 (55.3%) were willing to get vaccinated, 13,736 (40.3%) were hesitant, and 1495 (4.4%) were resistant. Rates of vaccine acceptance increased over time, with geographical discrepancies in vaccine hesitancy and resistance between provinces in China. Vaccine safety was the greatest concern expressed by most participants (24,461 [71.9%]), and the major reason for participants’ refusing vaccination (974 [65.2%]). Government agencies (23,131 [68.0%]) and social media (20,967 [61.6%]) were the main sources of COVID-19 vaccine information. Compared with vaccination acceptance, female, young and middle-aged, high income, and perceived low-risk of infection were associated with vaccine hesitancy. Histories of allergic reactions to other vaccines and depression symptoms were related to vaccine resistance. Common factors that influenced vaccine hesitancy and resistance were residing in cities and perceiving less protection with vaccines than with other protective measures. The results indicate that the rate of vaccine resistance is relatively low, but vaccine hesitancy is common. Individuals who are female, young and middle-aged, with a high income, and residing in cities are more likely to be hesitant for vaccination and should be the target populations for vaccination campaigns. Specific vaccine messaging from the government and social media could alleviate public concerns about vaccine safety and efficacy.

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Faster than warp speed: early attention to COVD-19 by anti-vaccine groups on Facebook

Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/pubmed/fdab093 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Seth C Kalichman ◽

Lisa A Eaton ◽

Valerie A Earnshaw ◽

Natalie Brousseau

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Vaccine Development ◽

Rapid Development ◽

Development Program ◽

Vaccine Safety ◽

Vaccine Hesitancy ◽

Conspiracy Theories ◽

The Us ◽

Us Government ◽

Vaccine Information

Abstract Background The unprecedented rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines has faced SARS-CoV- (COVID-19) vaccine hesitancy, which is partially fueled by the misinformation and conspiracy theories propagated by anti-vaccine groups on social media. Research is needed to better understand the early COVID-19 anti-vaccine activities on social media. Methods This study chronicles the social media posts concerning COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines by leading anti-vaccine groups (Dr Tenpenny on Vaccines, the National Vaccine Information Center [NVIC] the Vaccination Information Network [VINE]) and Vaccine Machine in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic (February–May 2020). Results Analysis of 2060 Facebook posts showed that anti-vaccine groups were discussing COVID-19 in the first week of February 2020 and were specifically discussing COVID-19 vaccines by mid-February 2020. COVID-19 posts by NVIC were more widely disseminated and showed greater influence than non-COVID-19 posts. Early COVID-19 posts concerned mistrust of vaccine safety and conspiracy theories. Conclusion Major anti-vaccine groups were sowing seeds of doubt on Facebook weeks before the US government launched its vaccine development program ‘Operation Warp Speed’. Early anti-vaccine misinformation campaigns outpaced public health messaging and hampered the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.

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Factors Associated with COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Mongolia: A Web-Based Cross-Sectional Survey

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph182412903 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (24) ◽

pp. 12903

Author(s):

Davaalkham Dambadarjaa ◽

Gan-Erdene Altankhuyag ◽

Unurtesteg Chandaga ◽

Ser-Od Khuyag ◽

Bilegt Batkhorol ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Side Effects ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Online Survey ◽

Adult Population ◽

Vaccine Hesitancy ◽

Personal View ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Vaccine Information

Vaccine acceptance in the general public is essential in controlling the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The study aimed to assess the COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the adult population of Mongolia, and determine the associated factors. A total of 2875 individuals from urban and rural areas were recruited, and completed an online survey. Older age, urban residence, previous vaccination, high education, good knowledge of side effects, and a personal view of the importance of vaccines were associated with vaccine acceptability, whereas gender and religion were not. Receiving COVID-19 vaccine information from official government pages was related to a higher acceptance rate. Reliance on social media as a source of COVID-19 vaccine information was associated with high level of vaccine hesitancy. The side effects and the type of the COVID-19 vaccine were a major reason for hesitation. Countering false information regarding COVID-19 vaccines on social media, and promoting vaccine importance on general news websites is necessary. Moreover, providing clear and direct educational materials through official communication channels on the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines alongside information on COVID-19 symptoms, vaccine side effects, and location of vaccine administration centers among the younger populations, rural residents, and those with lower education is needed.

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Barriers to Low-Dose CT Lung Cancer Screening among Middle-Aged Chinese

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17197107 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (19) ◽

pp. 7107 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Qike Jia ◽

Hongliang Chen ◽

Xuewei Chen ◽

Qichuan Tang

Keyword(s):

Lung Cancer ◽

Cancer Screening ◽

Online Survey ◽

Low Dose ◽

Lung Cancer Screening ◽

Screening Methods ◽

Middle Aged ◽

The Government ◽

Low Dose Computed Tomography ◽

More Trial

Purpose: The current study aims to explore the barriers for middle-aged Chinese to learn about and uptake low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) lung cancer screening. Methods: Data were collected via an online survey in December 2019. Final valid sample included 640 respondents, aged 40–60 years old, from 21 provinces of China. We performed multiple linear regressions to test the potential barriers to LDCT scan. Findings: Cost concerns, distrust in doctors, fears of disease, lack of knowledge, and optimistic bias are negatively associated with the intention to learn about and uptake LDCT scan. Implications: Our study contributes to understanding the negative predictors of middle-aged Chinese to get LDCT lung cancer scans. Future campaign programs should help audiences to build comprehensive understandings about lung cancer and LDCT scan. To better promote LDCT scan in China, the government should fund more trial programs continuously and public efforts should be made to rebuild the patient–doctor trust.

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Vaccine hesitancy: evidence from an adverse events following immunization database, and the role of cognitive biases

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-11745-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Hossein Azarpanah ◽

Mohsen Farhadloo ◽

Rustam Vahidov ◽

Louise Pilote

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Adverse Events ◽

Cognitive Biases ◽

Vaccine Safety ◽

Vaccine Hesitancy ◽

Decision Making Process ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Vaccine Acceptance ◽

Vaccination Decision ◽

Vaccine Information

Abstract Background Vaccine hesitancy has been a growing challenge for public health in recent decades. Among factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy, concerns regarding vaccine safety and Adverse Events (AEs) play the leading role. Moreover, cognitive biases are critical in connecting such concerns to vaccine hesitancy behaviors, but their role has not been comprehensively studied. In this study, our first objective is to address concerns regarding vaccine AEs to increase vaccine acceptance. Our second objective is to identify the potential cognitive biases connecting vaccine hesitancy concerns to vaccine-hesitant behaviors and identify the mechanism they get triggered in the vaccine decision-making process. Methods First, to mitigate concerns regarding AEs, we quantitatively analyzed the U.S. Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) from 2011 to 2018 and provided evidence regarding the non-severity of the AEs that can be used as a communicable summary to increase vaccine acceptance. Second, we focused on the vaccination decision-making process. We reviewed cognitive biases and vaccine hesitancy literature to identify the most potential cognitive biases that affect vaccine hesitancy and categorized them adopting the Precaution Adoption Process Model (PAPM). Results Our results show that the top frequent AEs are expected mild reactions like injection site erythema (4.29%), pyrexia (3.66%), and injection site swelling (3.21%). 94.5% of the reports are not serious and the average population-based serious reporting rate over the 8 years was 25.3 reports per 1 million population. We also identified 15 potential cognitive biases that might affect people’s vaccination decision-making and nudge them toward vaccine hesitancy. We categorized these biases based on the factors that trigger them and discussed how they contribute to vaccine hesitancy. Conclusions This paper provided an evidence-based communicable summary of VAERS. As the most trusted sources of vaccine information, health practitioners can use this summary to provide evidence-based vaccine information to vaccine decision-makers (patients/parents) and mitigate concerns over vaccine safety and AEs. In addition, we identified 15 potential cognitive biases that might affect the vaccination decision-making process and nudge people toward vaccine hesitancy. Any plan, intervention, and message to increase vaccination uptake should be modified to decrease the effect of these potential cognitive biases.

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Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccination Willingness among Health Care Workers: A Quick Online Survey in India

Korean Journal of Family Medicine ◽

10.4082/kjfm.21.0071 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 42 (6) ◽

pp. 445-452

Author(s):

Rajesh Kumar ◽

Kalpana Beniwal ◽

Yogesh Bahurupi ◽

Ravi Kant ◽

Mukesh Bairwa

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Perceived Risk ◽

Online Survey ◽

Vaccine Safety ◽

Economic Effects ◽

Vaccine Hesitancy ◽

Multinomial Regression ◽

Chi Square ◽

Care Workers

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused a large number of deaths along with severe socio-economic effects. The vaccine is considered to be the last hope to control viral transmission. This study aimed to explore the determinants of health care workers’ (HCWs) willingness to take the COVID-19 vaccination.Methods: A structured, pre-validated, and pre-tested questionnaire was administered online to 599 HCWs including physicians, residents, and nurses from different types of healthcare set-ups across India. Information was collected regarding vaccine acceptability, attitude toward vaccination, and reasons for hesitancy. The chi-square test, followed by multinomial regression analysis, was applied to determine the factors associated with HCWs’ vaccination willingness.Results: It was found that 73 % (n=437) of HCWs were willing to accept the vaccines, while 10.85% (n=65) refused and 16.2% (n=96) needed more time to decide. Gender (P<0.001), occupation (P=0.040), working as front-line workers (P=0.008), vaccine manufacturing country preferences (P<0.001), and perceived risk of catching COVID-19 in the next 6 months (P=0.005) had a significant association with intent to receive vaccination (the response were “yes” vs. “no” and “not sure”). The reasons for vaccine hesitancy were vaccine safety and efficacy concerns, antivaccine attitude and beliefs, personal choice, and not wanting to take a vaccine before others.Conclusion: The majority of HCWs agreed to take COVID-19 vaccines once available. Nevertheless, providing support to manage evolving vaccine environments will help change the perception of HCWs who refuse or are reluctant to take the vaccines.

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Understanding user satisfaction with Chinese government social media platforms

Information Research: an international electronic journal ◽

10.47989/irpaper865 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Feng Yang ◽

◽

Shan Zhao ◽

Wenyong Li ◽

Richard Evans ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

User Satisfaction ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Online Survey ◽

Positive Influence ◽

Survey Study ◽

Chinese Government ◽

Study Results ◽

Social Media Platforms ◽

The Government

Introduction. The purpose of this paper is to understand government social media from the perspective of user satisfaction and to evaluate it in the context of presentation, content and utility of the government affairs' microblogs in China. Method. Based on the comprehensive information theory, this study will generalise descriptions about the factors affecting the user satisfaction in the existing research. Analysis. Taking Chinese government affairs microblogs as examples, the paper utilises structural equation modelling to analyse an online survey study. Results. Its result indicates that presentation, content and utility have a positive influence on user satisfaction with Chinese government social media platforms. Conclusions. This study gets rid of the oversimplified description of the application of government social media, and could provide policy reference for subsequent adoption strategies of government social media.

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Issues and Challenges of, Factors that Affect, and the Primary Influences of Parents’ Decisions to Vaccinate their Adolescents: A Case of a Local National High School in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines

Canadian Journal of Family and Youth / Le Journal Canadien de Famille et de la Jeunesse ◽

10.29173/cjfy29752 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 147-161

Author(s):

Jenny J. Casiño ◽

Angelo Mark P. Walag

Keyword(s):

High School ◽

Decision Making ◽

Health Agency ◽

Vaccine Safety ◽

Vaccine Hesitancy ◽

Children And Parents ◽

The Government ◽

High Level ◽

Vaccine Decision Making ◽

Descriptive Survey

Vaccines are considered to be the center of the prevention and management of viral diseases. Even with the wide acceptance that vaccines are safe, vaccine hesitancy is still rampant in various parts of the world. Several historical, social, religious, and moral factors were identified and observed to have influence parent’s vaccine acceptance or hesitance. Parent’s vaccine hesitance or acceptance is crucial since adolescents constitute the ideal group for immunization. This study aims to uncover the issues and challenges of parents on vaccination, the factors that affect their decision to vaccinate their children, and parents' primary influences to vaccinate their children. A descriptive-survey research design utilizing a questionnaire floated to parents of adolescents in a local high school. It was found out that the level of education and type of occupation was significantly associated with parent's decision to vaccinate their children. The major issue and challenge of parents toward vaccination is that they don't find vaccines important and have a high level of distrust towards the government's health agency and medical professionals. The primary factor affecting their decision-making is the negative news on vaccination and vaccine safety. Respondents also reported that even they distrust the government's health agency, they still consider it influential towards their vaccine decision-making. With this, it is recommended that efforts be strengthened in restoring the public's trust towards the government health agency to address vaccine hesitancy.

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Network Analysis of COVID-19 Vaccine Misinformation on Social Media

10.3233/shti210839 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Chad Melton ◽

Olufunto A. Olusanya ◽

Arash Shaban-Nejad

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Network Analysis ◽

Semantic Network ◽

Vaccine Safety ◽

Vaccine Hesitancy ◽

World Population ◽

Semantic Network Analysis ◽

Online Social Media ◽

Social Media Platforms ◽

Media Platform

Almost half of the world population has received at least one dose of vaccine against the COVID-19 virus. However, vaccine hesitancy amongst certain populations is driving new waves of infections at alarming rates. The popularity of online social media platforms attracts supporters of the anti-vaccination movement who spread misinformation about vaccine safety and effectiveness. We conducted a semantic network analysis to explore and analyze COVID-19 vaccine misinformation on the Reddit social media platform.

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A Cross-sectional Online Survey on Knowledge, Attitude, and Perception of COVID-19 among Ghanaians

10.21203/rs.3.rs-74512/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Ebenezer Akuoko ◽

Cyril Alando

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Online Survey ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Related Information ◽

Prevention Interventions ◽

The Government ◽

Use Of Social Media ◽

Continuous Use ◽

Descriptive Statistical Analysis

Abstract This study examined knowledge, attitude, and perceptions of COVID-19 among Ghanaians. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using Google forms to recruit 503 participants over six weeks. We performed descriptive statistical analysis, and presented results in tables/charts. From the results, 66.4% of respondents depended on social media for COVID-19 related information, and 59.8% mostly heard/read about preventive measures in all COVID-19 information heard/read. Knowledge was adequate, but with noticeable gaps. Attitude was generally positive, with 84.1% willing to accept reintegration of treated COVID-19 patients. Perceptions were healthy, with only 3.8% perceiving insusceptibility. We conclude that these findings contribute significantly to the literature on COVID-19 in Ghana. We recommend the continuous use of social media by the Government of Ghana and relevant stakeholders for COVID-19 communications, and further research in the general population for evidence based COVID-19 prevention interventions in Ghana.

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Examining the effect of information channel on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0251095 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (5) ◽

pp. e0251095

Author(s):

Rachael Piltch-Loeb ◽

Elena Savoia ◽

Beth Goldberg ◽

Brian Hughes ◽

Tanner Verhey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽

Information Channel ◽

Traditional Media ◽

Vaccine Acceptance ◽

Public Health Communication ◽

Chi Squared ◽

Vaccine Information ◽

Quota Sampling ◽

Media Channels

Hesitancy towards the COVID-19 vaccine remains high among the US population. Now that the vaccine is available to priority populations, it is critical to convince those that are hesitant to take the vaccine. Public health communication about the vaccine as well as misinformation on the vaccine occurs through a variety of different information channels. Some channels of information are more commonly found to spread misinformation. Given the expansive information environment, we sought to characterize the use of different media channels for COVID-19 vaccine information and determine the relationship between information channel and vaccine acceptance. We used quota sampling of vaccine priority groups [N = 2,650] between December 13 and 23, 2020 and conducted bivariate chi-squared tests and multivariable multinomial logistic regression analyses to determine the relative impact of channels of information on vaccine acceptance. We found traditional channels of information, especially National TV, National newspapers, and local newspapers increased the likelihood of vaccine acceptance. Individuals who received information from traditional media compared to social media or both traditional and social media were most likely to accept the vaccine. The implications of this study suggest social media channels have a role to play in educating the hesitant to accept the vaccine, while traditional media channels should continue to promote data-driven and informed vaccine content to their viewers.

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