Abstract
High vaccination rates within the general population are essential for overcoming the current COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the present study was to investigate intentions to receive a COVID-19 vaccine as well as the predictors of such intentions. A representative sample of the Norwegian population (N = 1,003, 49.5% females, Mage = 47.9, SD = 17.1) filled in an online questionnaire assessing the components of the Theory of planned behavior (attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control), as well as optimistic bias and anticipated regret. Results showed that a majority (61.6%) of participants intend to get vaccinated. Regression analysis revealed that intentions were predicted by positive attitudes toward vaccination (β = 0.31, p < 0.001), subjective norms in favor of vaccination in one’s family (β = 0.23, p < 0.001), perceived behavioral control (β = 0.09, p < 0.001), and by anticipated net regret (β = 0.32, p < 0.001), explaining 69% (f2 = 2.23) of the variance in intentions. Optimistic bias did not predict intentions.
Highlights
The Coronavirus outbreak was declared a pandemic by the WHO in March 2020
Vaccines have the potential of saving millions of lives, and vaccination uptake is crucial to succeed in combating the Coronavirus disease
We examined whether the Theory of planned behavior (TPB, Ajzen, 1985, 1991), optimistic bias, and anticipated regret regarding vaccination could predict intentions to get vaccinated
Summary
The Coronavirus outbreak was declared a pandemic by the WHO in March 2020. By December 2020, the disease had caused over 1.8 million death (WHO, 2020b) and the largest global recession since the great depression (Financial Times, 2020). Vaccines have the potential of saving millions of lives, and vaccination uptake is crucial to succeed in combating the Coronavirus disease. Previous research has identified various factors influencing vaccination intentions and vaccination uptake including socioeconomic factors like higher income and higher education (e.g., Jain et al, 2017), being Caucasian and holding health insurance (e.g., Fisher et al, 2013 for HPVvaccination) as well as psychological factors like perceived risk, susceptibility, and severity (e.g., Brewer et al, 2007 for adult vaccination against infectious disease). Malik et al (2020) found that older age, being male, Asian, and COVID-19 Vaccination Intentions more educated correlated with vaccination acceptance in a US sample. Vaccination rejection correlated with the belief the threat of COVID-19 has been exaggerated, and with inadequate health literacy and lower education in an Australian study (Dodd et al, 2021) and with mistrust of vaccine benefit, worry about unforeseen future effects, concerns about commercial profiteering from pharmaceutical companies, and preferences for natural immunity in a North American study (Taylor et al, 2020)
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