Abstract

ObjectivesOlder adults face increased risks from infectious diseases which are often preventable with vaccines. The current study examines demographic variation in vaccine hesitancy among older adults in North Dakota. MethodsA mailed survey assessing age, gender, years of education, self-rated health, rurality, and political leaning as well as vaccine attitudes and vaccine acceptance was conducted with 739 older adults (65+), oversampled from rural counties. ResultsVaccine hesitant attitudes were significantly higher among rural and politically-conservative older adults; whereas, vaccine acceptance was significantly higher among older, healthier, and politically-liberal older adults. Vaccine attitudes were significantly associated with vaccine acceptance and mediated the association between political leaning and vaccine acceptance. DiscussionThese findings highlight the demographic characteristics predictive of older adults’ vaccine attitudes and acceptance. By better understanding the nuanced factors leading to hesitation to be vaccinated, practitioners can develop strategies to increase vaccination rates among this at-risk population.

Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call