Abstract
The speed and innovation of the COVID-19 vaccine development has been accompanied by insecurity and skepticism. Young adults’ attitude to vaccination remains under investigation, although herd immunity cannot be reached without them. The HEalth in Students during the Corona pandemic study (HES-C) provided the opportunity to investigate vaccination intention in 1478 students in the sixth survey wave (January 2021), including vaccination intention, psychological antecedents of vaccine hesitancy, trust in government’s vaccination strategy, and vaccination history. Associations with vaccination intention were analyzed with multivariate ordinal regression and predicted margins were calculated adjusting for gender, age, anxiety, health profession, and subjective health status. A third was decided (yes 25.1%, no 7.6%), and 68% were unsure about getting the COVID-19 vaccine when available. Next to demographic characteristics, vaccination history (influenza vaccination OR = 1.39; 95% CI: 1.06–1.83, travel vaccination OR = 1.29; 95% CI: 1.04–1.60), trust in vaccination strategy (OR = 2.40; 95% CI: 1.89–3.05), and 5C dimensions were associated with vaccination intention: confidence (OR = 2.52; 95% CI: 2.09–3.03), complacency (OR = 0.79; 95% CI: 0.66–0.96), calculation (OR = 0.79; 95% CI: 0.70–0.89), constraints (OR = 1.18; 95% CI: 0.99–1.41), and collective responsibility (OR = 4.47; 95% CI: 3.69–5.40). Addressing psychological antecedents and strengthening trust in official strategies through targeted campaigns and interventions may increase decisiveness and result in higher vaccination rates.
Highlights
The SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is as unprecedented as the COVID-19 pandemic itself.Never before has a vaccination been developed so quickly after the identification of a virus.This success was possible due to an international effort and a new methodology, messengerRNA, being applied in the development of the vaccine [1,2]
Vaccination history, trust in vaccination strategy (OR = 2.40; 95% confidence intervals (95% CI): 1.89–3.05), and 5C dimensions were associated with vaccination intention: confidence (OR = 2.52; 95% CI: 2.09–3.03), complacency
Vaccination history, trust in the government’s vaccination strategy, and psychological vaccination antecedents were positively associated with COVID-19 vaccination intention
Summary
The SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is as unprecedented as the COVID-19 pandemic itself.Never before has a vaccination been developed so quickly after the identification of a virus.This success was possible due to an international effort and a new methodology, messengerRNA, being applied in the development of the vaccine [1,2]. Never before has a vaccination been developed so quickly after the identification of a virus. This success was possible due to an international effort and a new methodology, messenger. RNA, being applied in the development of the vaccine [1,2]. This quick development phase has been coupled with the insecurities and skepticism of the public [3], on one hand related to the methodology involving genetic mechanisms and until now non-existent evidence on long-term effects, and on the other hand to pre-existing vaccine hesitancy. Vaccine hesitancy refers to a delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccination, despite the availability of vaccination services. It is complex, context specific, and variable across time, place, and vaccine [4]. The top three cited reasons for vaccine hesitancy globally are risk-benefit (scientific evidence), lack of knowledge and awareness of vaccination and its importance, and socio-cultural reasons such as religion, culture, gender, and socioeconomic issues regarding vaccines [5]
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