Resistance to COVID-19 vaccination has increased in Ireland and the United Kingdom during the pandemic

P Hyland,F Vallières,M Shevlin,R.P Bentall,R Mckay,T.K Hartman,O Mcbride,J Murphy

doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2021.04.009

Abstract

ObjectivesHesitance and resistance to COVID-19 vaccination poses a serious challenge to achieving adequate vaccine uptake in the general population. Cross-sectional data from the early months of the pandemic indicates that approximately one-third of adults in multiple nations are hesitant or resistant to a vaccine for COVID-19. Using longitudinal data, we tracked changes in attitudes to COVID-19 vaccination during the pandemic. Study designThis is a quantitative, longitudinal design. MethodNationally representative samples of the adult general population of the Republic of Ireland (N = 1041) and the United Kingdom (N = 2025) were assessed for their attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination at three points from March to August 2020. ResultsStatistically significant increases in resistance to COVID-19 vaccination were observed in Irish (from 9.5% to 18.1%) and British (from 6.2% to 10%) adults. ConclusionResistance to vaccination has significantly increased in two European nations as the pandemic has progressed. Growing resistance to COVID-19 vaccination will pose a challenge to public health officials responsible for ensuring sufficient vaccine coverage.

Highlights

Resistance to COVID-19 vaccination has increased in Ireland and the United Kingdom during the pandemic
In March 2020, our research group initiated a longitudinal project that tracked nationally representative samples of adults from the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom (UK). Asked if they would accept a hypothetical vaccine for COVID-19, approximately two-thirds of Irish (65%) and British (69%) adults responded ‘yes’, about one-quarter responded ‘maybe’ (26% in Ireland and 25% in the UK) and the remainder responded ‘no’ (9% in Ireland and 6% in the UK).[4]
In Ireland, between March and August 2020, there was a significant decrease in vaccine acceptance, no change in vaccine hesitance (25.6e26.6%) and a significant increase in vaccine resistance (9.5e18.1%)

Summary

Introduction

Resistance to COVID-19 vaccination has increased in Ireland and the United Kingdom during the pandemic In March 2020, our research group initiated a longitudinal project that tracked nationally representative samples of adults from the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom (UK).

Objectives

Results

Conclusion