Factors That Impact Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccination in Different Community-Dwelling Populations in China

(1) Background: It is important to improve vaccination strategies and immunization programs to achieve herd immunity to infectious diseases. (2) Methods: To assess the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination, we conducted face-to-face surveys and online surveys in Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Qinghai provinces. A fixed-effect model and a random effects model were used to analyze factors associated with the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination. (3) Findings: We initially recruited 3173 participants, 3172 participants completed the full questionnaire (the response rate was nearly 100%), of which 2169 were valid questionnaires, with an effective rate of 87.3%. The results indicated that 82.6% of participants were willing to receive vaccination when it was available in the community, and 57.2% of deliverymen, 43.3% of medical workers, 78.2% of parents of primary and secondary school children, and 72.2% of parents of preschool children were willing to receive vaccination. The models showed that participants who were male (female vs. male: OR = 1.49, 95% CI (1.12, 1.98)), 60 to 69 years-old (60–69 vs. <30: OR = 0.52, 95% CI (0.29, 0.92)), had less education (medium vs. low: OR = 1.50, 95% CI (1.05, 2.23)), had good health status (good vs. low: OR = 0.36, 95% CI (0.15, 0.88)), and had positive attitudes and trust (OR = 0.14, 95% CI (0.10, 0.20)) in vaccines approved by the National Health Commission were more likely to accept vaccination. Participants also had an increased vaccination acceptance if it was recommended by government sources, doctors, relatives, or friends. Most participants learned about COVID-19 vaccination from television, radio, and newspapers, followed by community or hospital campaigns and the internet. (4) Conclusions: Government sources and doctors could increase the acceptance of vaccination by promoting the efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccination by the use of mass media and emphasizing the necessity of vaccination for everyone.

Mediators of Racial Differences in COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Uptake: A Cohort Study in Detroit, MI

Despite their disparate rates of infection and mortality, many communities of color report high levels of vaccine hesitancy. This paper describes racial differences in COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Detroit, and assesses, using a mediation model, how individuals’ personal experiences with COVID-19 and trust in authorities mediate racial disparities in vaccination acceptance. The Detroit Metro Area Communities Study (DMACS) is a panel survey of a representative sample of Detroit residents. There were 1012 respondents in the October 2020 wave, of which 856 (83%) were followed up in June 2021. We model the impact of race and ethnicity on vaccination uptake using multivariable logistic regression, and report mediation through direct experiences with COVID as well as trust in government and in healthcare providers. Within Detroit, only 58% of Non-Hispanic (NH) Black residents were vaccinated, compared to 82% of Non-Hispanic white Detroiters, 50% of Hispanic Detroiters, and 52% of other racial/ethnic groups. Trust in healthcare providers and experiences with friends and family dying from COVID-19 varied significantly by race/ethnicity. The mediation analysis reveals that 23% of the differences in vaccine uptake by race could be eliminated if NH Black Detroiters were to have levels of trust in healthcare providers similar to those among NH white Detroiters. Our analyses suggest that efforts to improve relationships among healthcare providers and NH Black communities in Detroit are critical to overcoming local COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Increased study of and intervention in these communities is critical to building trust and managing widespread health crises.

Knowledge, attitude and practice towards COVID-19 vaccination acceptance in West India

Background: After almost a year of the COVID-19 pandemic, economies around the world are opening up. However, with newer, more virulent strains being reported across the globe, the efficacy of vaccines has also come into question, and regulatory authorities are emphasising once again, the importance of mask use and social distancing. The aim of the study was to understand the knowledge, attitude and practice towards wearing of masks during this pandemic.Methods: This was a non-interventional, questionnaire based, cross sectional study conducted in urban slums in Mumbai, India. A validated questionnaire was administered to those who volunteered to be part of the study, during sero-survey in the slum area. Results: A total of 1342 participants were included in the study. An overwhelming 1232 (91.8%) knew that masks should cover both nose and mouth. Almost 72% claimed to wear their face masks more than 50% of the time when outside their homes, while 27.5% used them only when in crowded places. Interestingly only 3% said they did not wear masks at all. 86% subjects were of the opinion that cloth masks should be washed daily, and 5% said it should be washed once every two days. There was a significant association with the knowledge regarding proper usage and cleaning of mask, and age, gender and occupation.Conclusions: The knowledge and attitude towards wearing and care of masks reveals that there was a significant association between proper usage and cleaning of masks and age, occupation, literacy and income.

EXPRESS: Vaccination Acceptance across Cultures: The Roles of Collectivism, Empathy, and Homophily

How does culture influence vaccination acceptance? This is an important question facing managers, policymakers, and global health organizations. Even with effective vaccines for highly contagious diseases, humankind remains at risk from vaccine hesitancy. We conduct a largescale multilevel analysis of more than 400,000 survey respondents, finding that COVID-19 vaccination intentions are higher among people from countries higher in cultural collectivism (Study 1). Follow-up studies indicate that vaccination acceptance is higher among people that endorse collectivistic values because they feel more empathy for those afflicted by the disease (Studies 2a, 2b, 3), especially when victims of the disease have similar characteristics (e.g., political affiliation, lifestyle, personality) as themselves (Study 3). To encourage vaccination acceptance, we suggest promoting collectivistic values and empathic concern, as well as homophily through the portrayal of victims with characteristics like those hesitant to accept vaccination.

Vaccination Requirements

With the start of vaccination efforts in various countries, hopes spark that social gatherings are coming closer within reach. From a leisure and tourism business perspective, vaccination is a possible road to restart. Such a restart depends on the number of people receiving vaccinations and the sense of safety for customers. Therefore, businesses relying on social gatherings might be highly motivated to further boost vaccination acceptance by requiring their customers to get vaccinated. The following shall provide a basis of debate about the possibilities of enforcing vaccination initiatives from a political perspective considering legal restrictions.

Default change nudges Covid-19 vaccine uptake: a randomized controlled trial

Although vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 is considered the central strategy against the pandemic, uptake lags behind target rates. To explore whether this rate could be enhanced by a nudging strategy that exploits the status quo bias, we conducted a randomized controlled study in northern Italy comparing vaccination acceptance among 2,000 adults aged 50-59 who were either invited to set an appointment (opt-in group) or assigned an individual appointment (opt-out group). Results indicate an increase in vaccination rate for the opt-out group compared to the opt-in group of 3.2 percentage points — a 32% relative increase. This suggests that a significant portion of those who remain unvaccinated may not hold strong beliefs against vaccination, but rather tend to inaction and may therefore be nudged toward vaccination with a reduction of action required.

Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccination among Healthcare and Non-Healthcare Workers of Hospitals and Outpatient Clinics in the Northern Region of Slovakia

The purpose of this study was to analyse attitudes, motivation, and reasons for hesitancy toward COVID-19 vaccination among healthcare workers (HCWs) in northern Slovakia. A cross-sectional study was conducted between 30 August 2021 and 30 September 2021. An anonymous questionnaire was administered. The study was completed by 1277 employees. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify predictors of COVID-19 vaccination status. A total of 1076 (84.3%) were vaccinated, and 201 (15.7%) were unvaccinated. Physician job type (OR = 1.77; CI95 1.13–2.78), history of COVID-19 (OR = 0.37; CI95 0.26–0.37), influenza vaccination at any time (OR = 1.97; CI95 1.12–3.46), compulsory vaccination for HCWs (OR = 9.15; CI95 2.92–28.62), and compulsory vaccination for selected groups (OR = 9.71; CI95 2.75–34.31) were the predictors significantly associated with COVID-19 vaccination acceptance. Non-physician HCWs, employees in hospitals, and employees without a history of COVID-19 significantly more distrusted the efficacy of vaccines against COVID-19. Results of our study confirmed that physicians have higher vaccination rates and lower hesitance to get vaccinated than non-physician HCWs. HCWs play an important role in influencing vaccination decisions and can be helpful in vaccine advocacy to the general public.

Did Science Leadership Fail SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination Acceptance?

The 21st century brought unprecedented challenges for academic medicine. Then, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) arrived—and has attributed to more than 600,000 deaths in the United States (US) alone. Two, readily available, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-authorized COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are more than 90% effective in preventing Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Yet, only 55% of all Americans have been partially vaccinated and 45% are fully vaccinated. Most new COVID-19 cases occur in unvaccinated people. In select regions across the US, intensive care units are, once again, overfilled. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has spread far beyond healthcare causing global socioeconomic disruptions and affecting overall human well-being. In my classroom, getting it less than 60% right earns a student an F grade. America has failed to convince its people of the vaccine benefit. How? Was it the government? It is no secret that most Americans don’t trust the government. Did science leadership fail to communicate with the public? Should our educators have taught us more science? Did physicians fail to be open and transparent with their patients? Should we be a more trusting nation? Perhaps all –perhaps none—of these are contributing factors. Is human response behavior taking a toll on human life? One thing is for sure. It is a great injustice that American lives continue to be lost and that others continue to live in fear. More than two millennia ago, the philosopher Socrates argued that humility is the greatest of all virtues. In this report, I elaborate on humble leadership by scientists to improve the imperfect art of communication as a solution to heal our beloved nation.