Robert P Lennon1, Meg L Small2, Rachel A Smith3, Lauren J Van Scoy4, Jessica G Myrick5, Molly A Martin6, Data Action Research Group. 1. Department of Family and Community Medicine, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA. 2. College of Health and Human Development, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA. 3. Department of Communication Arts and Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA. 4. Department of Medicine, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA. 5. College of Communications, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, USA. 6. Department of Sociology and Criminology, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To explore public confidence in a COVID-19 vaccine. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: A rural college town in central Pennsylvania. SUBJECTS: Adult residents without minor children. MEASURES: The primary outcome was COVID-19 vaccination intention. Secondary measures included vaccination attitudes, norms, efficacy, past behavior, trust in the vaccination process, and sociodemographic variables of education, financial standing, political viewpoint, and religiosity. ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics were used to describe quantitative data. Multivariate ordinal regression was used to model predictors of vaccine intention. RESULTS: Of 950 respondents, 55% were "very likely" and 20% "somewhat likely" to take a coronavirus vaccine, even though 70% had taken the flu vaccine since September 2019. The strongest predictors of vaccine acceptance were trust in the system evaluating vaccines and perceptions of local COVID-19 vaccination norms. The strongest predictors of negative vaccine intentions were worries about unknown side-effects and positive attitudes toward natural infection. Sociodemographic factors, political views, and religiosity did not predict vaccine intentions. CONCLUSION: Fewer adults intend to take a coronavirus vaccine than currently take the flu vaccine. Traditional sociodemographic factors may not be effective predictors of COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Although based on a small sample, the study adds to our limited understanding of COVID-19-specific vaccine confidence among some rural Americans and suggests that traditional public health vaccination campaigns based on sociodemographic characteristics may not be effective.
PURPOSE: To explore public confidence in a COVID-19 vaccine. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: A rural college town in central Pennsylvania. SUBJECTS: Adult residents without minor children. MEASURES: The primary outcome was COVID-19 vaccination intention. Secondary measures included vaccination attitudes, norms, efficacy, past behavior, trust in the vaccination process, and sociodemographic variables of education, financial standing, political viewpoint, and religiosity. ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics were used to describe quantitative data. Multivariate ordinal regression was used to model predictors of vaccine intention. RESULTS: Of 950 respondents, 55% were "very likely" and 20% "somewhat likely" to take a coronavirus vaccine, even though 70% had taken the flu vaccine since September 2019. The strongest predictors of vaccine acceptance were trust in the system evaluating vaccines and perceptions of local COVID-19 vaccination norms. The strongest predictors of negative vaccine intentions were worries about unknown side-effects and positive attitudes toward natural infection. Sociodemographic factors, political views, and religiosity did not predict vaccine intentions. CONCLUSION: Fewer adults intend to take a coronavirus vaccine than currently take the flu vaccine. Traditional sociodemographic factors may not be effective predictors of COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Although based on a small sample, the study adds to our limited understanding of COVID-19-specific vaccine confidence among some rural Americans and suggests that traditional public health vaccination campaigns based on sociodemographic characteristics may not be effective.
Entities:
Keywords:
COVID-19; health communications; health policy; vaccine acceptance
Authors: Anna E Jaffe; Scott Graupensperger; Jessica A Blayney; Jennifer C Duckworth; Cynthia A Stappenbeck Journal: Vaccine Date: 2022-01-26 Impact factor: 4.169
Authors: Stephen Gurley; Brady Bennett; Patrick Sean Sullivan; Maryellen Kiley; Jamie Linde; David Szczerbacki; Jodie Guest Journal: JMIR Public Health Surveill Date: 2021-12-15
Authors: Chidinma Ihuoma Amuzie; Franklin Odini; Kalu Ulu Kalu; Michael Izuka; Uche Nwamoh; Uloaku Emma-Ukaegbu; Grace Onyike Journal: Pan Afr Med J Date: 2021-09-03