Examining COVID-19 Vaccination Intentions Between Early Stages of the Pandemic and One Year Later in the United States

Abstract

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization and governments across the globe strongly suggested that individuals incorporate health-protective behaviors into their lives to limit the spread of the virus. The present study, conducted from March to May in both 2020 and 2021, examined how demographics, perceived risk and worry of infection, knowledge about COVID-19, engagement in health-protective behaviors, trust in government, and exposure to COVID-19 predicted the intention to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. We additionally compared the 2 datasets to see whether any predictors changed a year later. The sample collected in 2020 included 821 U.S. residents, and the sample collected in 2021 included 299 residents. Major findings across both datasets suggest that ethnicities of Black or African American predicted less intention to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Additionally, receiving a flu vaccine the previous year and trust in the government were found to predict higher vaccination intentions. Belief in conspiracy theories predicted lower intention to receive a vaccination for COVID-19. Understanding these predictors allows for governments and institutions to potentially incorporate targeted strategies to increase vaccine uptake for the COVID-19 pandemic or other future pandemics.