Social Network, Trust, Approval of President Biden, Risk Perception, and Annual COVID-19 Booster Intention

Abstract

The aim of this study is to understand the American public’s attitudes toward the annual coronavirus disease booster vaccination, administered beginning in the fall of 2023. The authors carried out a national survey in the spring of 2023, with 40 percent of respondents saying that they are “very likely” to receive the regular booster when it becomes available. Several underlying predictors are identified through structural equation modeling analyses. People with more vaccine takers in their social circles, greater trust in others, higher approval of President Biden’s performance, and greater perceived risk of the pandemic are more likely to receive regular boosters. The social network has the most considerable influence, with the largest coefficient size after comparing all standardized coefficients. The effect of trust is enhanced through social networks, and there is a combined effect of President Biden’s approval and risk perception. These findings contribute to the literature and have policy implications for leveraging interventions and optimizing the vaccination campaign.