Vaccination Intentions Research Articles

Understanding the mechanisms behind descriptive norms on influenza vaccination intention: the role of concerns about vaccine safety and effectiveness

Understanding the mechanisms behind descriptive norms on influenza vaccination intention: the role of concerns about vaccine safety and effectiveness

Mediational role of risk perception in the relationship between vaccination knowledge and intention

BackgroundPrevious studies have shown that parents demand for information on vaccinations is universal. Nonetheless, parental knowledge demonstrated mixed results in vaccination intention, attitude, uptake, or confidence. In contrast, risk perception is a consistent predictor of vaccination-related outcomes. ObjectiveThis study aimed to establish risk perception as a mediator between vaccination knowledge and intention. MethodUsing a multistage random sampling technique, a cross-sectional survey was conducted with expectant mothers from maternity and child health clinics in the districts of Petaling, Klang, Gombak, and Hulu Langat. 416 respondents answered the self-administered questionnaire. Data was analysed using SPSS version 27 for descriptive statistics and Amos version 27 with bootstrapping procedure for mediation analysis. ResultsVaccination knowledge predicted risk perception [std β = 0.743, p = 0.036], risk perception predicted vaccination intention [std β = 0.934, p = 0.006], and risk perception fully mediate the relationship between vaccination knowledge and intention [std β = 0.694, p = 0.016]. The mediation model showed satisfactory fit indices: χ2/df (2.898), comparative fit index 0.946, Tucker-Lewis index 0.939, and root mean squared error of approximation 0.061. ConclusionThe goal of educational interventions is to increase vaccination intention by addressing vaccine information that influences both subjective and objective risk perception.

COVID-19 vaccine intentions and attitudes in Black American emerging adults with asthma

BackgroundEmerging adults (aged 18–29) are less likely to receive the COVID-19 vaccine than any other adult age group. Black Americans are less likely than non-Hispanic white Americans to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This study explored factors which affect vaccine intention and attitudes in Black American emerging adults with asthma.MethodsParticipants were recruited from an NHLBI-funded clinical trial to improve asthma control. Fifty-nine Black American emerging adults completed a Qualtrics survey that assessed asthma control, intention to vaccinate, and factors which may affect the decision to vaccinate. Twenty-five participants also completed a semi-structured interview via Zoom. Bivariate correlations and descriptive statistics, including Chi Square analyses, were run using SPSS. Interview thematic analyses were conducted via QDA Miner.ResultsOf the 59 Black American emerging adults with asthma who completed surveys, 32.2% responded that they were highly unlikely to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, while 50.8% responded that they were highly likely to receive it. Increased asthma control was significantly correlated with a higher likelihood to discuss the COVID-19 vaccine with their healthcare provider (ρ = 0.339, α = 0.011). Concerns about immediate (ρ= -0.261, α = 0.050) and long-term (ρ= -0.280, α = 0.035) side effects were inversely correlated with intention to vaccinate. Only 17% of the participants who were unemployed stated that they were highly likely to receive the vaccines compared to 65% of the participants who were employed; however, interview participants who were unemployed stated not needing the vaccine because they were protecting themselves by social distancing. When deciding whether to receive the vaccine, safety, efficacy, and immediate side effects were the top three factors for 91%, 54%, and 49% of the participants, respectively. Beliefs about the vaccines’ safety and efficacy, information gathering, personal factors, and societal factors emerged as important themes from the interviews.ConclusionOnly half of the surveyed Black American emerging adults with asthma were highly likely to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Safety and efficacy were important for the majority of the participants, regardless of vaccine intention. Greater asthma control, but not access to asthma-related healthcare, was correlated with intention to discuss the vaccine with their healthcare provider.

How Political Ideology and Media Shaped Vaccination Intention in the Early Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States

As a pharmaceutical intervention, vaccines remain a major public health strategy for mitigating the effects of COVID-19. Yet, vaccine intake has been affected by various cognitive and cultural factors. We examine how a selected set of factors (i.e., knowledge, concern, media, peer influence, and demographics) shaped COVID-19 vaccination intention in the early phase of the pandemic (Fall 2020). Using a survey conducted in three US states (Idaho, Texas, and Vermont) just prior to the rollout of the first vaccines against COVID-19, we find that COVID-19 concern was the primary driver of vaccination intention. Concern was shaped mainly by two factors: political ideology and media sources. Yet, ideology and media were much more important in affecting concern for those who leaned politically conservative, as opposed to those who leaned liberal or remained moderate. The results from our structural equation models affirm that the information politically conservative respondents were receiving reinforced the effects of their ideology, leading to a greater reduction in their concern. We discuss the potential implications of these findings for future pandemic preparedness.

Attitudes, Beliefs, and Intention to Receive a COVID-19 Vaccine for Pediatric Patients With Sickle Cell Disease.

Sickle cell disease (SCD), which occurs primarily in individuals of African descent, has been identified as a preexisting health condition for COVID-19 with higher rates of hospitalization, intensive care unit admissions, and death. National data indicate Black individuals have higher rates of vaccine hesitancy and lower COVID-19 vaccination rates. Understanding the key predictors of intention to receive a COVID-19 vaccine is essential as intention is strongly associated with vaccination behavior. This multisite study examined attitudes, beliefs, intentions to receive COVID-19 vaccines, and educational preferences among adolescents, young adults, and caregivers of children living with SCD. Participants completed an online survey between July 2021 and March 2022. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the association between participant age and COVID-19 vaccine attitudes, beliefs, and vaccine intentions. Of the 200 participants, 65.1% of adolescents, 62.5% of young adults, and 48.4% of caregivers intended to receive a COVID-19 vaccine for themselves or their child. Perception that the vaccine was safe was statistically significant and associated with patient and caregiver intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine for themselves or their child. Participant age was also statistically significant and associated with the intent to get a booster for patients. Study findings highlight key concerns and influencers identified by patients with SCD and their caregivers that are essential for framing COVID-19 vaccine education during clinical encounters. Study results can also inform the design of messaging campaigns for the broader pediatric SCD population and targeted interventions for SCD subpopulations (eg, adolescents, caregivers).

Implicit theories of health predict HPV vaccination intention among young adult Chinese women: The mediating effect of consideration of future consequences and future self-continuity.

This study investigated the predicting effect of implicit theories of health on HPV vaccination intention among young adult Chinese women and its underlying mechanisms. Four-hundred and eighty-three young Chinese women adults (18-26 years old) participated this study by completing measures on implicit theories of health, consideration of future consequences, future self-continuity, and reported their HPV vaccination intention. The results demonstrated that age, whether they knew someone being diagnosed with cancer, implicit (incremental) theories of health, consideration of future consequences (CFC-Future), and future self-continuity significantly predicted young adult Chinese women's HPV vaccination intention. The predicting effect of implicit theories of health was mediated by consideration of future consequences and future self-continuity. Implications of the current research for promoting HPV vaccination among young adult women and directions for future research are discussed.

Are vaccination uptake and non-uptake influenced by our emotions? An experimental study on the role of emotional processes and compassion

Objective This study examined the effects of emotional arousal, emotional competence, emotion regulation (ER), and compassion on COVID-19 and flu vaccination intentions (VI) among the French population. Design Data were collected online from October to December 2020. Altogether, 451 participants (Mage = 35.8, SD = 16.4) were allocated to four groups. High positive (n = 104) or negative (n = 103) emotional arousal were induced into two groups using pictures and music, and compared against a control group (flu group; n = 116) and a reference group (COVID-19 group; n = 114). All groups completed questionnaires on emotional arousal, ER, emotional competence, compassion, and VI. Results The findings indicated a significant effect of group on VI, h2 =.023, 95% CI [–.002, .09]. The Group*Gender interaction on emotional arousal was non-significant, η p 2 =.015, 95%CI [.000, .041]. However, emotional arousal was observed to have a significant main effect on VI, η p 2 =.09, 95% CI [.043, .238]. The ER type*Emotional arousal*Gender interaction on ER use was trend, η p 2 = .002, 95% CI [.000, .005]. The emotional competence*ER type interaction on ER use was significant, η p 2 = .028, 95% CI [.011, .049]. Only experiential avoidance mediated the relationship between emotional arousal and VI, p < .018, 95% CI [.015, .18]. Conclusion Emotional arousal impacts VI. High emotional competence only reduces the use of dysfunctional ER strategies.

Mothers' Intention for Measles-Rubella Vaccination at Bareng Primary Healthcare Center Malang

Background: Measles and rubella are infectious diseases caused by viruses. The average number of measles cases found in infancy to four years old was 1.125 cases (41.8%) in 2021, with 366 and 13 cases for East Java and Malang, respectively. To eliminate measles and rubella cases in 2023, the high coverage of measles and rubella (MR) vaccination must be met at least 95%. Since 2021, the Bareng Primary Healthcare Centre in Malang has shown the lowest MR vaccination, with 217 children vaccinated (33.23%).Method: This study used a quantitative research method with observational analysis and a cross-sectional study design with a sample size of 68 people. The sampling technique used was proportionate random sampling. Then, data were done through univariate and bivariate analyses using the Spearman rank correlation test.Results: Based on the univariate results, most respondents were aged 27 to 35 years (55.9%) with secondary education (Senior High School/Vocational School/Islamic Senior High School) (55.9%) and had no income (41.2%). Based on the results of the bivariate analysis, intention and attitude correlated (0.000) with subjective norm (0.000) and perceived control over behavior (0.000). Variables significantly related to mother’s intention in giving measles-rubella vaccination were attitude over behavior, subjective norm, and perception of control over behavior. It is expected that the result of this study could raise the mother's intention to participate in counseling and socialization by providing accurate information about the MR vaccination.

Examining the Impact of Six Pro-Vaccination Messages on MMR Vaccine Hesitancy Among Mothers in Ukraine

The Ukrainian government began delivering mandatory MMR vaccination letters to parents across the country in 2019. In this two-phase online RCT, we aimed to test the effectiveness of this national mandatory vaccination letter against five behavioural science-informed letters, in terms of their effects on the vaccination attitudes, intentions and behaviours of Ukrainian mothers (N = 738). One letter was focused on the simplicity and accessibility of vaccination procedures; one contained a testimonial from a family doctor; two letters contained pro-vaccination social norm statements (one signed by a family doctor and one by a school director); and one contained a loss-framed message underlining the risks of non-vaccination. The results showed no difference between the conditions in terms of change in vaccination attitudes and intentions but there was an effect on behaviour (measured through clicking a link to schedule a vaccination). The letters signed by a family doctor, outlining how vaccination is a social norm, were most effective in encouraging positive vaccination behaviours. We conclude that the national template used by Ukrainian public health authorities is unlikely to reduce vaccine hesitancy or increase vaccination rates, and that letters emphasising the normative nature of vaccination could increase uptake in the Ukrainian context.

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in Canadian blood donors: Insight into donor representativeness of the general population

IntroductionBlood donors world-wide were indispensable for monitoring anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies generated by infection and vaccination during the pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, donor vaccination behaviours were under-studied. We aimed to compare the percentage of Canadian blood donors with SARS-CoV-2 vaccination antibodies with the percentage of the general population who received at least one dose of vaccine each month during initial vaccine deployment. We also report donor attitudes towards SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. MethodsCanadian blood donors were randomly selected for SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing over 2021 (N = 165,240). The percentage of donor samples with vaccination antibodies were compared with the percentage of general population who received at least one dose of vaccine in each month of 2021 except February. A random sample of Canadian blood donors were surveyed about vaccination intent and attitudes (N = 4,558 participated, 30.4 % response rate). ResultsThe percentages of the general population vaccinated and donors with vaccination antibodies increased from 1 % to over 90 %. General population vaccination was greater early in vaccine deployment than donors (p < 0.05), greater in donors than the general population by mid-2021 (p < 0.05) but they were similar by the end of 2021. While 52.6 % of surveyed donors had received vaccine in May 2021, a further 41.1 % intended to when eligible. Most donors thought COVID-19 infection could be serious (83.5 %) and that it was important to be vaccinated even if previously infected (77.8 %). ConclusionEarly pandemic vaccine prioritization to at-risk individuals and healthcare workers gave rise to higher general population vaccination percentages, while donors had higher vaccine antibody percentages as vaccine was deployed to progressively younger age groups. Since blood donors may be more willing to receive vaccination, under pandemic conditions they may be valuable for monitoring vaccination-induced seroprevalence.

Parental Factors Associated with COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake for Children over 5 Years of Age in Texas.

The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective for children, yet parental hesitancy towards vaccinating children against the virus persists. We conducted a telephone-administered weighted survey in Texas to examine parents' sociodemographic factors and medical conditions associated with COVID-19 vaccination intention for parents with unvaccinated children ages 5-17 years. We collected responses from 19,502 participants, of which 4879 were parents of children ages 5-17 years. We conducted multiple logistic regression with Lasso-selected variables to identify factors associated with children's vaccination status and parents' intention to vaccinate their children. From the unweighted sample, less than half of the parents (46.8%) had at least one unvaccinated child. These parents were more likely to be White, English-speaking, not concerned about illness, privately insured, and unvaccinated for COVID-19 themselves (p < 0.001). In the adjusted regression model, parents who were unvaccinated (vs. having COVID-19 booster, aOR = 28.6) and financially insecure (aOR = 1.46) had higher odds of having unvaccinated children. Parents who were Asian (aOR = 0.50), Black (aOR = 0.69), Spanish-speaking (aOR = 0.57), concerned about illness (aOR = 0.63), had heart disease (aOR = 0.41), and diabetes (aOR = 0.61) had lower odds of having unvaccinated children. Parents who were Asian, Black, Hispanic, Spanish-speaking, concerned about illness for others, and vaccine-boosted were more likely to have vaccination intention for their children (p < 0.001). Children's vaccination is essential to reduce COVID-19 transmission. It is important to raise awareness about the value of pediatric COVID-19 vaccination while considering parents' sociodemographic and medical circumstances.

Using the health belief model to understand intention to vaccinate for Lyme disease in the United States.

A growing number of Lyme disease (LD) cases in the U.S. are reported in states neighbouring those with high-incidence (>10 cases per 100,000 population) rates. Considering the evolving epidemiology, high-incidence counties in many of these "neighbouring states," and the forthcoming vaccines, understanding the drivers of vaccination intention is critical, particularly how drivers of intention in neighbouring states vary relative to regions currently classified as high incidence. This study uses the Health Belief Model (HBM) to determine the key drivers associated with vaccine intention for U.S. adults and caregivers of children residing in neighbouring states. Using an established panel with quotas for age, sex, race/ethnicity and urbanity, we surveyed 887 adults and 822 caregivers of children residing in U.S. neighbouring states. Survey items included measures of intention and HBM constructs, all of which were assessed using 5-point Likert scales. We subsequently used structural equation modelling to understand the influence of the HBM constructs on LD vaccine intention. Estimates from structural equation modelling show that the HBM constructs explain much of the variation in intention to vaccinate against LD. Intentions to vaccinate for both adults and caregivers are positively influenced by cues to action, perceived susceptibility of LD, and perceived benefits to vaccination. Both are also negatively influenced by perceived barriers to vaccination. The caregiver's intention to vaccinate is also positively influenced by the perceived severity of LD. The intention to vaccinate for respondents residing in LD neighbouring states is strongly influenced by recommendations from healthcare providers or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As incidence rises in neighbouring states and the need to prevent disease becomes more overt, public health officials should strongly recognize the influence of healthcare providers and CDC recommendations on intention to vaccinate against LD.

A Method to Explore the Best Mixed-Effects Model in a Data-Driven Manner with Multiprocessing: Applications in Public Health Research.

In the present study, I developed and tested an R module to explore the best models within the context of multilevel modeling in research in public health. The module that I developed, explore.models, compares all possible candidate models generated from a set of candidate predictors with information criteria, Akaike information criterion (AIC), and Bayesian information criterion (BIC), with multiprocessing. For testing, I ran explore.models with datasets analyzed in three previous studies in public health, which assumed candidate models with different degrees of model complexity. These three studies examined the predictors of psychological well-being, compliance with preventive measures, and vaccine intent during the COVID-19 pandemic. After conducting model exploration with explore.models, I cross-validated the nomination results with calculated model Bayes Factors to examine whether the model exploration was performed accurately. The results suggest that explore.models using AIC and BIC can nominate best candidate models and such nomination outcomes are supported by the calculated model Bayes Factors. In particular, all the identified models are superior to the full models in terms of model Bayes Factors. Also, by employing AIC and BIC with multiprocessing, explore.models requires a shorter processing time than model Bayes Factor calculations. These results indicate that explore.models is a reliable, valid, and feasible tool to conduct data-driven model exploration with datasets collected from multiple groups in research on health psychology and education.

Trends in Intention to Take the Second Booster COVID-19 Vaccination and Associated Factors in China: Serial Cross-Sectional Surveys.

The escalating complexity of the COVID-19 epidemic underscores the need for heightened attention to booster vaccinations. This study aims to examine the changing trend in the public's intention to receive the second COVID-19 booster vaccination over time and the associated factors following the COVID-19 policy optimization in China. Eight cross-sectional surveys utilizing SMS questionnaire links were conducted in Guangzhou, China, from December 2022 to April 2023. The Mann-Kendall test was employed to analyze the trend in intentions to receive the second booster vaccination across the survey time. Adjusted and multivariate logistic analyses were used to analyze the factors associated with vaccination intention. Parallel analyses were performed for two subgroups with different COVID-19 infection statuses. A total of 9860 respondents were surveyed in the eight rounds, of which 8048 completed the first booster vaccination and were included in the analysis. The overall COVID-19 infection rate was 60.0% (4832/8048), while the overall vaccination intention was 72.2% (5810/8048) among respondents. The vaccination intention exhibited a significant declining trend over time, decreasing from 81.5% in December 2022 to 52.2% in April 2023. An adjusted logistic regression analysis revealed that anxiety and depression were negatively associated with an intention to receive the second booster vaccination, while COVID-19-related preventive behaviors and a high engagement in COVID-19-related information were positively associated with an intention to receive the second booster vaccination. A subgroup analysis revealed that the association between psychological and behavioral characteristics and vaccination intention remained relatively stable among individuals with different histories of COVID-19 infections. There was a significant decline in the intention to receive the second booster vaccination following the optimization of the COVID policy in China. Our findings emphasize the urgency of the second booster vaccination and provide a foundation for the development of tailored interventions to enhance and sustain vaccination intention among the public.

Communication Strategies to Promote COVID-19 Vaccination Intention: How Effective are Source, Appeal, Framing, and Evidence Type Approaches?

ABSTRACT This systematic review analyzed the effectiveness of key persuasive strategies – source, appeal, framing, and evidence (SAFE) – on COVID-19 vaccination intention. Quantitative studies were searched in Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed following the PRISMA guidelines. From the 61 studies that met inclusion criteria, source and framing are the most commonly applied SAFE strategies. However, source characteristics are a more consistent influence on vaccine intentions than message framing strategies, with expert sources and general practitioners emerging as the key sources contributing to greater vaccine intentions. In addition, a range of mediators and moderators influence the process through which SAFE message strategies impact vaccine intentions. Framing effects, in particular, are moderated by political identity, source characteristics, and vaccine perceptions. Tests of mediating processes highlight how health behavior judgments (e.g. perceived vaccine benefits, risks, trust in vaccination, perceived severity) and message response/perceptions (e.g. counterarguing, perceived similarity/empathy) operate as key intervening factors between SAFE message strategies and vaccine intentions. Overall, when practitioners apply various structural approaches (narrative elements, fear appeals, framing cues) to vaccine promotion campaigns, they should be cognizant of who is providing that appeal. Targeted populations may benefit most from different structural elements if they are integrated with sources that resonate with the audience.

“It’s My Moral Responsibility to Protect Others!” Examining the Effects of Moral Framing and Message Format on Influenza Vaccination Attitude and Intention

ABSTRACT Vaccinations serve a dual purpose: safeguarding the vaccinated individuals while also preventing potential transmission to others. However, the pro-vaccine message has primarily emphasized the personal health risks and harms of not getting vaccinated, while rarely highlighting the moral responsibility of getting vaccinated to protect others. Guided by the Model of Intuitive Morality and Exemplars (MIME) along with the narrative persuasion framework, the current study conducted a 2 (moral framing: vaccination to protect oneself vs. protect others) X 2 (message format: statistical vs. narrative) between-subject online experiment to examine the effects of moral framing and message format on vaccination decision-making. The results revealed that individuals exposed to a pro-vaccine message framing vaccination as a moral responsibility to protect others from harm reported significantly higher levels of perceived moral responsibility and elevation, more positive attitudes toward the flu vaccine, and an increased intention to get vaccinated compared to a pro-vaccine message emphasizing vaccination for self-protection. Counterintuitively, presenting the moral responsibility of receiving the flu vaccine to safeguard others in a statistical format was discovered to be more effective in fostering favorable attitudes toward vaccination and increasing the intention to get vaccinated. This study offers a valuable insight: promoting vaccination as a moral duty could be a promising strategy for motivating individuals to get vaccinated.

Factors associated with vaccination intention and uptake over time in a sample of older Australians

This study sought to identify the behavioural and social drivers of vaccination in 16,745 older Australians. We analysed and compared influences on COVID-19 vaccination intention and uptake using prospectively collected survey data from the Sax Institute’s 45 and Up Study. Vaccination intention increased with older age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]:1.03; 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.01–1.04; p = .002), a belief that the vaccine is important for the person’s own health (aOR: 5.17; 95 % CI: 4.23–6.24; p < .001), is safe (aOR:2.64; 95 % CI: 2.19–3.2; p < .001), and trusted by the person (aOR:6.79; 95 % CI: 5.59–8.26 p < .001); concern about contracting COVID-19 (aOR:1.78; 95 % CI: 1.47–2.17; p < .001); having enough information about COVID-19 vaccines (aOR:1.99; 95 % CI: 1.65–2.29; p < .001); a belief that most adults will receive a COVID-19 vaccine (aOR:2.31; 95 % CI: 1.93–2.77; p < .001); and a belief that family and friends wanted the person to receive a COVID-19 vaccine (aOR:6.07; 95 % CI: 5.06–7.27; p < .001). The same factors contributed to increased vaccine uptake, with the exception of age and the belief that the person had enough information about the vaccine. Concern that the vaccine will cause a serious reaction was associated with both lower intention (aOR:0.35; 95 % CI: 0.29–0.43; p < .001) and lower uptake (aOR:0.61; 95 % CI: 0.46–0.81; p < .001) while lower intention was also associated with low decisional autonomy (aOR:0.37; 95 % CI: 0.22–0.62; p < .001). Intentions changed over time and a change towards vaccination was associated with perceptions of vaccine safety. Access barriers played a role in the non-vaccination of otherwise intending older Australians. Messaging that is adaptive to safety concerns, emphasises vaccine benefits, leverages social norms, and targets people who make decisions for older Australians may be helpful for influencing vaccination intentions and increasing vaccine uptake.

The correlation between conspiracy mentality and vaccine intentions is moderated by social events: Evidence from longitudinal data during COVID-19 pandemic in the UK

Social events may provide important cues that influence the sense of reality, including the perception that conspiracy theories are plausible. Using longitudinal panel data collected in the UK from March 2020 to December 2021, this study aims to identify whether social events influenced the strength of the association between conspiracy mentality and vaccine intentions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Consistent with previous research, the conspiracy mentality was a significant predictor of vaccine intentions across three-time points, but also that conspiracy mentality measured in March 2020 predicted that participants were more hesitant to the vaccines in December 2020. The primary finding was that different social events moderated the strength of the correlation between conspiracy mentality and vaccine intentions within similar participants. Conspiracy mentality became more vital to evaluate COVID-19 vaccines in December 2020, when the vaccination program was about to commence.

HPV Vaccine Awareness, Past Behaviors, and Future Intentions Among a Diverse Sample of Fathers Aged 27 to 45 Years: A National Survey.

Men aged 27 to 45 are eligible for human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination as of 2019, yet relatively little is known about whether they have received or intend to receive it. We conducted a cross-sectional, online survey among fathers aged 27 to 45 between March and April 2022, to assess associations between HPV vaccination awareness, behaviors, intentions, and psychosocial constructs from the Health Belief Model. We examined the characteristics of those who had (a) heard of the HPV vaccine, (b) already received ≥ 1 dose, and (c) intentions for future vaccination among those who had never been vaccinated. Among 400 men who completed the survey, 32% were not aware of the HPV vaccine. Among those who were aware, 41% had received ≥ 1 dose. Sixty-three percent of unvaccinated men reported that they intended to get vaccinated in the future. Multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed that age and race/ethnicity were associated with having been vaccinated previously. Among the unvaccinated, multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed that those with a higher perceived risk of HPV-associated cancer had 3.73 greater odds of reporting they would seek vaccination compared to those with lower perceived risk (95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.28, 12.3]). We did not find perceived benefits, barriers, or decision self-efficacy to be related to future vaccine intentions. Since recommendations for this group include shared clinical decision-making, public health efforts should focus on raising awareness of vaccine eligibility, emphasizing risk factors for HPV-associated cancers so that individuals have an accurate perception of risk, and encouraging conversation between men and their providers.

Determinants of COVID-19 vaccination intention in Central and Eastern Europe: A cross-sectional study in Poland, Romania, and Slovenia

BackgroundIdentifying predictors of vaccination intention is critical to developing appropriate programs and campaigns targeting groups reluctant to be vaccinated. This study aimed to identify the determinants of vaccination intention at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in three Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries: Poland, Romania, and Slovenia.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, a sample of unvaccinated 1723 Poles, Romanians, and Slovenians completed an online survey (April 2021). Questions included measures of vaccination intention, attitudes towards vaccines, conspiracy mindset, preference for a type of vaccine, and trust in information sources.ResultsThe results showed that mistrust of vaccine benefits and concerns about commercial profiteering negatively predicted vaccination intention. Conversely, trust in information from medical professionals and scientists, official sources, and traditional media was positively related to vaccination intention, while trust in digital media was negatively related to vaccination intention. In addition, preference for mRNA vaccine type was a positive significant predictor of vaccination intention. The differences between countries are discussed.ConclusionsThe study results deliver suggestions for developing appropriate vaccine uptake programs and campaigns that should consider presenting the positive outcomes of vaccines via official sources and traditional media based on scientific evidence and medical professionals’ knowledge.