Vaccine Hesitancy Research Articles

Institutional trust, conspiracy beliefs and Covid-19 vaccine uptake and hesitancy among adults in Ghana.

Vaccine hesitancy is considered one of the ten threats to global health. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine hesitancy may undermine efforts toward controlling or preventing the disease. Nevertheless, limited research has examined vaccine hesitance, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It is thus imperative to examine how institutional trust and conspiracy belief in tandem influence the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines. Using data (n = 2059) from a cross-sectional study in Ghana, this study examines the association between institutional trust, conspiracy beliefs, and vaccine uptake among adults in Ghana using logistics regression. The regression model (model 3) adjusted for variables such as marital status, age, gender, employment, income, and political affiliations. The results show that individuals were significantly less likely to be vaccinated if they did not trust institutions (OR = .421, CI = .232-.531). Similarly, we found that individuals who believed in conspiracy theories surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine were less likely to be vaccinated (OR = .734, CI = .436-.867). We also found that not having a COVID-19-related symptom is associated with vaccine refusal (OR = .069, CI = .008-.618). Similarly, compared to those with a vaccine history, those without a vaccine history are less likely to accept the COVID-19 vaccine (OR = .286, CI = .108-.756). In conclusion, our results demonstrate the need for enhanced education to tackle conspiracy beliefs about the disease and enhance vaccine uptake. Given the role of trust in effecting attitudinal change, building trust and credibility among the institutions responsible for vaccinations ought to be prioritized.

VAXXED & BOOSTED: Increasing COVID-19 Vaccination Rates in West Greenville, NC, USA

Pitt County is ranked 48th out of the 100 counties in North Carolina for COVID-19 vaccination rates, with only 53.8% of the population fully vaccinated. West Greenville, located in Pitt County, is historically of lower economic status, leading to poorer social determinants of health. The goal of the VAXXED & BOOSTED campaign was to increase COVID-19 vaccination rates in West Greenville by combating vaccine hesitancy and easing barriers to vaccination. From June through August of 2022, community ambassadors spoke to members of the community about their vaccine hesitancies and provided them with verified resources about the vaccine. Five vaccination events were hosted at the Community Crossroads Center and the JOY Soup Kitchen throughout July 2022. At each vaccination event, a survey was implemented to determine the effectiveness of the program. Through VAXXED & BOOSTED, 52 people received COVID-19 vaccines: 13 for the first dose, 4 for the second, and 35 for boosters. Of 29 surveyed, 82.8% found community ambassadors helpful, and 51.7% interacted with them before the event. The event influenced 75.9% to get vaccinated, 82.8% learned something new, and 93.1% plan to encourage others to get vaccinated. Word of mouth likely played a significant role in event promotion, as only 51.7% interacted with ambassadors beforehand. The use of community ambassadors and educational events was successful in influencing people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in West Greenville.

The Saudi thoracic society guidelines for vaccinations in adult patients with chronic respiratory diseases

Abstract: Adult patients with chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) are considered high risk group who are more likely to experience worse clinical outcomes if they acquire viral or bacterial infections. Vaccination is the best preventive tool to reduce the risk of infection and disease occurrence and to reduce the level of severity of complications associated with the various vaccine-preventable infections. These guidelines were developed by the Saudi Thoracic Society task force to emphasize the critical importance of improving the vaccine coverage rates in adult patients with CRD. They are intended to serve as a reference for healthcare practitioners managing CRD patients. The guidelines aimed to review the current knowledge related to vaccination efficacy in adult patients with CRD, based on the recent evidence and recommendations. Integrating the administration of the recommended vaccines in routine healthcare, such as during outpatient visits or before hospital discharge, is crucial for improving the vaccination rates in high-risk patients. The key strategies to address this public health priority include simplifying vaccination guidelines to enhance their accessibility and implementation by healthcare providers, increasing awareness in both the patients and healthcare providers that vaccines are not only intended for children. Additional strategies include maintaining continuous surveillance and advance research to discover novel vaccines. This approach aims to expand the range of preventable diseases and improve overall health and well-being. Vaccine hesitancy remains a significant challenge that necessitates a clear understanding of the community concerns. Providing appropriate education and communication, as well as addressing these concerns, are the crucial steps toward improving vaccine acceptance and uptake. By implementing these guidelines and multifaceted strategies, healthcare systems can optimize vaccine coverage and protection for patients with CRD, reduce the burden of vaccine-preventable complications, and improve the clinical outcomes in this vulnerable population.

Anti-Science Populism Versus Brazil's Covid-19 Vaccination Program: A Tale of Two Pandemic Stories

Can civil servants protect the administrative state from illiberal populism? We argue that bureaucratic success in fending off illiberal populism necessitates both a supportive institutional environment and overcoming populist rhetoric meant to undermine public confidence in policy expertise. The Covid-19 pandemic in Brazil is a case study of populist antipathy toward a professional public health service. Brazil's public health officials were able to defy Jair Bolsonaro's obstruction of a Covid-19 mass vaccination program thanks to institutions characterised by insulation from executive reprisal, decentralised health care provision, and an independent judiciary. However, civil servant resistance was less effective in nullifying Bolsonaro's anti-vaccine rhetoric: Even as most Brazilians received Covid-19 vaccines, vaccination rates remained associated with electoral support for Bolsonaro and overall vaccine hesitancy increased. The Brazilian case suggests the power of populist rhetoric to undermine pluralist public administration by attacking its epistemic foundation, even in a context favorable to bureaucratic resistance.

COVID-19 vaccination intention among people who use drugs in France in 2021: results from the international community-based research program EPIC

BackgroundCOVID-19 vaccination is crucial to reduce the incidence of severe forms of the disease in the population. However, people who use drugs (PWUD) face structural and individual barriers to vaccination, and little is known about vaccination intention and factors associated with that intention among PWUD. This study aimed to estimate vaccination intention in PWUD and associated factors in the early stage of vaccination campaigns.MethodsWe conducted cross-sectional study in France among PWUD, as part of the international EPIC program, a community-based research study coordinated by Coalition PLUS. It included 166 unvaccinated PWUD attending harm reduction centers. A questionnaire collected data on sociodemographic characteristics, COVID-19 related difficulties, and mental health, among other things. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with low vaccination intention.ResultsOnly 19% of participants reported strong intention to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Factors independently associated with low vaccination intention were younger age (aOR = 0.90, 95%CI = 0.85–0.95), lower education level (aOR = 2.67, 95% CI = 0.95–7.55), and unstable housing (aOR = 6.44, 95% CI = 1.59–40.34). The most-cited reasons for low intention were mistrust in COVID-19 vaccines (66.1%), fear of side effects (48.7%), and non-belief in vaccinations in general (25.2%).ConclusionsThis study highlights the need for targeted COVID-19 information and interventions to increase vaccine uptake in PWUD, especially those living in precarity. Community-based interventions and targeted government assistance could play a crucial role in addressing vaccine hesitancy in this population, not only for COVID-19 but for future epidemics.

Factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination or intent to be vaccinated across three U.S. states

Objectives: Vaccine hesitancy represents an important challenge to the effective control of the COVID-19 pandemic. In prior research on seasonal influenza, childhood vaccination, and emergency vaccination programs, hesitancy has been associated with a wide range of demographic, psychological, and compliance factors.Methods: In January 2021, an online survey was distributed using the Qualtrics (Provo, UT) platform to a proportional quota sample of individuals in three states: Louisiana, New York, and Washington. Crude and adjusted risk differences and 95 % confidence intervals were calculated to describe the relationship between vaccination or intent to be vaccinated and demographic, psychological, compliance, and pandemic impact variables.Results: Of 812 respondents, 696 indicated their vaccination status or intent to be vaccinated. Sixty-six percent indicated they were vaccinated or intended to be when available (n = 457) and 34 % were not vaccinated and did not intend to be vaccinated (n = 239). In bivariate analysis, respondents who were older, male, married, white, and reported higher household incomes were more likely to be vaccinated or intend to be. Those who complied with mask wearing, social distancing, and avoided gatherings with people outside their household were also more likely to report vaccination or intention. In the multivariable model, backward elimination resulted in a model that retained sex, race, household income, and avoiding large gatherings.Conclusion: There are important demographic, behavioral, and other factors that influence vaccine acceptance. Identifying those factors is vital for targeted and effective messaging, education, and engagement to reach those most hesitant, increase vaccination coverage, and effectively address the COVID-19 pandemic.

A scoping review of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy: refusal rate, associated factors, and strategies to reduce.

This study aimed to investigate the evidence regarding vaccine hesitancy including refusal rate, associated factors, and potential strategies to reduce it. This is a scoping review. Three main databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched from 1 January 2020 to 1 January 2023. All original studies in the English language that investigated one of our domains (vaccine hesitancy rate, factors associated with vaccine hesitancy, and the ways/interventions to overcome or decrease vaccine hesitancy) among the general population were included in this study. The data were charted using tables and figures. In addition, a content analysis was conducted using the 3C model of vaccine hesitancy (Confidence, Complacency, and Convenience) that was previously introduced by the WHO. Finally, 184 studies were included in this review. Of these, 165, 181, and 124 studies reported the vaccine hesitancy rate, associated factors, and interventions to reduce or overcome vaccine hesitancy, respectively. Factors affecting the hesitancy rate were categorized into 4 themes and 18 sub-themes (contextual factors, confidence barriers, complacency barriers, and convenience barriers). Vaccine hesitancy (VH) rate and the factors affecting it are different according to different populations, contexts, and data collection tools that need to be investigated in specific populations and contexts. The need to conduct studies at the national and international levels regarding the reasons for vaccine refusal, the factors affecting it, and ways to deal with it still remains. Designing a comprehensive tool will facilitate comparisons between different populations and different locations.

Childhood Vaccination and Vaccine Hesitancy: A Comparison Between Türkiye and the signifificance of vaccination

Childhood Vaccination and Vaccine Hesitancy: A Comparison Between Türkiye and the signifificance of vaccination

Bridging the gap: Political engagement and trust as mediators of racial health inequities and vaccine reluctance

This paper investigates how political engagement and trust can reduce health disparities in the context of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. It posits that active participation in the political process and trust in political institutions enable communities, especially marginalized ones, to advocate for equitable health policies, leading to more inclusive healthcare services. The study employs a multidisciplinary approach to understand how politics influence individual and collective health behaviors and decision-making. The research uses t-tests and logistic regression to analyze the relationship between political factors (like interest and participation) and trust in political and federal systems on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. The t-test examines disparities in vaccine hesitancy across racial groups, revealing significant differences and emphasizing the impact of race on health behaviors. Logistic regression, controlling for variables such as partisanship and media influence, further explores these relationships, showing a consistent negative correlation between trust in federal institutions and vaccine hesitancy across racial groups. The study also finds that this correlation varies by race, with trust in the political system and political participation influencing vaccine hesitancy to different degrees among racial groups. These findings underscore the complex interplay between political engagement, trust, and health behaviors, highlighting the role of politics in shaping public health outcomes.

Cognitive flexibility predicts attitudes towards vaccination: evidence from a New Zealand sample

BackgroundVaccine hesitancy (the reluctance or refusal to vaccinate) poses a significant threat to public health worldwide, with declining vaccination coverage resulting in the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases (e.g., measles) in recent years. Despite efforts to combat vaccine hesitancy through information-based campaigns and other interventions, vaccine-hesitant attitudes persist. Given that such interventions likely expose individuals to information that conflicts with their own viewpoints about vaccination, cognitive flexibility – the ability to adapt one’s thoughts, attitudes, beliefs, or behavior in response to changing information or environmental demands – may play a role in vaccine hesitancy.MethodsThe current study investigated the relationship between cognitive flexibility and attitudes towards vaccination in a sample of New Zealand residents (N = 601). Cognitive flexibility was measured using perseverative responses in the Wisconsin Card-Sorting Task, and vaccination attitudes were measured using an adapted version of the Multidimensional Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (MVHS). Linear regression was used with MVHS scores as the dependent variable and cognitive flexibility and sociodemographic variables (age, gender, ethnicity, education level, religion) as predictors.ResultsCognitive flexibility predicted personal barriers to vaccination (e.g.,” vaccines go against my personal beliefs”), with participants with lower levels of cognitive flexibility reporting greater personal barriers. In contrast, there was no significant relationship between cognitive flexibility and external barriers to vaccination (e.g., “vaccines cost too much”). Additionally, religious participants reported overall higher levels of vaccine hesitancy than non-religious participants.ConclusionsThese findings join others demonstrating that individual differences in cognitive style are associated with attitudes towards vaccination, and tentatively suggest that interventions aiming to reduce vaccine hesitancy may be more effective if combined with techniques to increase cognitive flexibility. To be sure, future work is needed to test the causal relationship between cognitive flexibility and attitudes towards vaccination.

Factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and uptake among populations in the West department of Haiti.

The COVID-19 pandemic in Haiti led to increased challenges for a population concurrently dealing with natural and social disasters, poor quality health care, lack of clean running water, and inadequate housing. In 2022, the population of Haiti was 11.4 million. While half a million vaccines for COVID-19 were donated by the United States to the government of Haiti, less than 5% of the population agreed to be vaccinated. This resulted in thousands of unused doses that were diverted to other countries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate population characteristics related to vaccine uptake in order to inform future interventions to improve COVID-19 vaccine uptake as well as inform strategies to safeguard against future global health security threats. This was a mixed-methods, cross-sectional study conducted in the West Department of Haiti within peri-urban communes. Participants consisted of adults in this setting responding to a survey from June 15 to July 18, 2022. The survey assessed demographic information, household characteristics, religious beliefs, past vaccine use, and current COVID-19 vaccine status. Multivariate regression modeling was conducted to assess predictors of vaccine hesitancy. Qualitative focus group discussion participants were recruited and focus group discussions were conducted between August-September 2022 among community groups, religious leaders and health professionals to provide additional, community-level context on perceptions of the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccines. A total of 1,923 respondents completed the survey; of which a majority were male (52.7%), between the age of 18-35 (58.5%), had a medical visit within the last year (63.0%) and received the COVID-19 vaccine (46.1%). Compared to those who had been COVID-19 vaccinated, participants who had not been vaccinated were more likely to be male (57.7% vs 46.8%, p < .0001), have completed secondary education (30.5% vs 16.6%, p < .001), unemployed (20.3% vs 7.3%, p < .0001) and had a medical visit 3 or more years ago (30.2% vs 11.2%, p < .0001). Unvaccinated COVID-19 participants were also more likely to have never received any other vaccine (36.1% vs22.5%, p < .0001), have a religious leader speak out against the vaccine (20.0% vs 13.1%, p < .0001), not believe in the effectiveness of the vaccine (51.2% vs 9.1%, p < .0001) and did not trust the healthcare worker administering the vaccine (35.2% vs 3.8%, p<0.0001). These results show that targeted interventions to religious leaders and health care workers on how to engage with the community and share clearer messages around the COVID-19 vaccination may result in increased vaccine uptake. Results also shed light on how activities surrounding vaccinations can be tailored to meet client needs addressing the misinformation encountered to achieve greater health impact thereby safeguarding the population against future global health security threats.

To vaccinate or not to vaccinate? Experiences of COVID-19 vaccine uptake among people living with non-communicable diseases in Ghana: A qualitative study.

Following the development of a vaccine for COVID-19, the expectation was instantaneous widespread distribution and uptake to halt further spread, severe illness and deaths from the virus. However, studies show very low uptake, especially in resource-poor settings, and little is documented about the drivers of vaccine uptake in populations classified as high-risk. In this study, we explored access and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among people living with non-communicable diseases (PLWNCDs) in Ghana. A qualitative study using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions was conducted among adults (>18 years) PLWNCDs stratified by sex, age, and type of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) at the community level (non-users of the health service) and health facility levels. Purposive sampling was used to select eligible participants. Topic guides were used to facilitate the face-to-face in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The interviews and discussions were all digitally audio recorded. All transcripts and field notes were thematically analysed. Overall, 62 participants were recruited for this study. Family members, friends/peers, health workers and media were identified as the main sources of information for COVID-19 vaccines. Several barriers that mediated access to the COVID-19 vaccines in Ghana were reported including mistrust of vaccine efficacy and fears of vaccine side-effects, long distance to and waiting hours at vaccination centres, shortages of vaccines at vaccination centres and non-prioritization of NCD patients for the vaccine. To improve uptake, intensified education and sensitization, house-to-house vaccination, expansion of vaccination centers and increased supply of vaccines were recommended by participants. Compared to studies elsewhere, misinformation and disinformation were not major causes of vaccine hesitancy. If policymakers can improve community-based vaccine delivery, reduce queues and waiting times, prioritize PLWNCDs and other vulnerable groups, and improve sensitization and communication-our findings suggest there will be major improvements in COVID-19 vaccine coverage in Ghana.

VACCINATION HESITATION FROM THE BIOETHICAL PERSPECTIVE

Introduction: Vaccine hesitation represents a significant challenge to public health, with serious consequences, such as the resurgence of eradicated diseases, the return of measles and pertussis in Brazil, as well as other immunoprevenable diseases, due to the fall in vaccination coverage. There is a bioethical conflict between the autonomy of parents who choose not to vaccinate their children and the lack of responsibility, as citizens, to protect public health. In addition, the responsibility of health professionals to work in accordance with the principles of beneficence and non-maleficence, so that they always indicate and encourage vaccines duly endorsed by science. Respect for autonomy should be balanced with the collective good, where vaccination hesitation contributes to the resurgence of preventable diseases and generates negative impacts on public health. Objective: Discuss vaccine hesitation from the perspective of bioethics from a real case report, addressing the repercussions of doctors’ instructions to their patients. Additionally, the legal aspects related to the obligation of vaccination in Brazil are discussed, with emphasis on collective protection and ethical duty to promote public health. METHOD: This is a descriptive and qualitative study based on a real case report of meningoencephalitis resulting from chickenpox, whose searches were performed in the Scielo, PubMed and Lilacs databases. Discussion: Varicella is a disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus, whose transmission occurs through respiratory aerosols or contact with the contents of skin lesions. Its main complications are meningoencephalitis, pneumonia, skin and ear infections. Meningoencephalitis is a rare interlocutory appeal that consists of acute central nervous system inflammation and can be fatal. Vaccination against chickenpox prevents injuries resulting from this infection. According to the legislation in force in the country, the obligation to immunize through a vaccine that, registered with a health surveillance body, is part of the National Immunization Program or its obligatory application determined by law is constitutional. Addressing the precepts of principalist bioethics, the present study relates them to the reported case, aiming to broadly discuss vaccine hesitation from medical advice. CONCLUSION: The case report highlights the importance of vaccination against the varicella zoster virus in preventing serious complications and the bioethical dilemma between parents’ autonomy and the responsibility of protecting the health of children and the community. Non -immunization, as in the case of the varicella, highlights the need to prioritize the principles of beneficence and non -maleficence. Although autonomy is essential, it should be balanced with the individual and collective good, especially in vaccination, where protection depends on adherence to immunization policies. Vaccine hesitation is a growing public health problem, requiring health professionals to be well formed to combat misinformation and promote evidence -based practices.

The association of vaccine hesitancy with other public health practices in well child care: a cross-sectional study

Vaccination is one of the most successful public health initiatives in human history. Despite all the benefits of vaccination, it is noteworthy that the number of vaccine hesitant parents has increased in recent years. Individuals with vaccine hesitancy are known to have similar attitudes towards other scientific initiatives. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the attitudes of vaccine hesitant parents and other practices and interventions in well child care. The “Parental Attitudes Towards Childhood Vaccinations (PACV) scale was applied to parents of children aged 2-6 without chronic diseases. A PACV score of 50 or above was considered as vaccine hesitancy. Sociodemographic characteristics, economic status and practices in well child care were questioned. Parents' vaccine hesitancy and their approaches to other practices in well child follow-up were compared. A total of 329 parents were included in the study. The rate of parents with vaccine hesitancy was 22.8% (n=75). In both groups, most participants had an undergraduate/graduate level of education. Those with vaccine hesitancy were less likely to have received vitamin K at birth (81.3% vs. 97.6%, p&lt;0.01), and use of prophylactic vitamin D (72% vs. 88.2%, p&lt;0.01) and iron supplements in the first year of life (66.7% vs 78.3%, p=0.038) were lower. No difference was found for developmental hip dysplasia and hearing screening. The current attitudes of vaccine hesitant parents are not limited to vaccination, but also affect other health initiatives. In our study, we have shown that vaccine hesitant individuals are also opposed and/or reluctant to child health initiatives. Taking this into account when developing strategies to overcome vaccine hesitancy may lead to more effective results.

Message framing's limited efficacy in counteracting parental hesitancy towards human papillomavirus vaccination for female adolescents: Insights from a randomized trial.

Parental acceptance of HPV vaccination remains low. This study investigates the influence of different message framing on Chinese parental intentions to vaccinate their daughters against HPV. A 2 (appeal framing: gain vs. loss) × 2 (cultural value: individualism vs. collectivism) × 2 (evidence type: narrative vs. non-narrative) factorial design was used in an online experiment. Parents of unvaccinated junior high school girls were recruited and included in the experiment. The primary outcome assessed was the reduction in HPV vaccine hesitancy (VH). The analysis of variance tests (ANOVAs) and hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to test the hypotheses. Of 4012 participants, the majority were women with low VH. Only loss-framing exerted a direct effect on advocacy (p = .036). Initial VH negatively moderated this effect (p = .027). Except for narrative evidence (p = .068), message framings showed significant small effects in low-hesitant participants (p = .032). An incentive policy negatively moderated the initial VH's effect on advocacy (p = .042). Persuasion was evident only among low-hesitant participants not receiving incentives (p = .002). In contrast, for highly hesitant individuals without incentive policies, loss-framing (p = .024) and collectivism perspective (p = .033) produced counterintuitive effects. Message framing is effective among low-hesitant parents of female adolescents in improving HPV vaccination decisions without economic incentives. Non-narrative evidence and loss-framing messages should be prioritized over narrative evidence and gain-framing messages. Nonetheless, caution is warranted when engaging with highly hesitant parents.

Assessing changes in COVID-19 vaccine uptake and intentions among the Brigada Digital Latino social media audience: a repeated cross-sectional study

BackgroundU.S. Latinos experienced disproportionate COVID-19 impacts in terms of morbidity and mortality. Vaccination against COVID-19 is an important strategy for mitigating health impacts, and yet, vaccine uptake was slower among U.S. Latino adults compared to other racial/ethnic groups. Vaccine hesitancy has been a significant barrier within Latino communities, and exposure to misinformation has been associated with negative attitudes toward vaccination. While some COVID-19 mitigation efforts have included community-based outreach, few studies have explored the impact of community-based digital messaging in Spanish to counter COVID-19 misinformation, build trust, and promote vaccination. To address this gap, we conducted a one-year repeated cross-sectional study to assess changes in COVID-19 vaccine uptake, intentions, and perceived norms, as well as barriers to accessing reliable information and levels of trust in COVID-19 information sources among Latino adults exposed to Brigada Digital de Salud social media content. This culturally-tailored content disseminated on Facebook, Instagram, and X platforms was amplified by community health workers and partners, and focused on COVID-19 risk and prevention, vaccine safety and efficacy, and correcting related misinformation.ResultsStatistically significant increases in COVID-19 vaccination and intentions to vaccinate children were observed from May 2022 (wave 1) to April 2023 (wave 2). Among perceived difficulties accessing information, respondents indicated the most difficulty in judging the reliability of COVID-19 information in the media; however, a statistically significant decrease in perceived difficulty was observed between waves. With regard to trust in COVID-19 information sources, levels of trust were highest for healthcare providers in both waves, and there were statistically significant increases in trust in the FDA to ensure COVID-19 vaccine safety and trust in the federal government to ensure child COVID-19 vaccine safety at wave 2.ConclusionsSocial media messaging by trusted community-based sources shows promise as a strategy for combating health misinformation and ameliorating information access gaps for language minority populations. This digital approach represents an important tool for deploying critical information to underserved populations in public health emergency and crisis contexts, and for supporting changes in attitudes, trust, and behaviors to improve health outcomes.

Vaccine hesitancy and the challenge of successful scientific communication

Vaccine hesitancy and the challenge of successful scientific communication Drawing on personal experiences and public discourse, Dr. Klaus Eyer, an Associate Professor at Aarhus University, explores the challenges of communicating about vaccine science to address vaccine hesitancy. Various hurdles need to be overcome by a vaccine to protect against a disease. It needs to be proven safe and effective in clinical studies. It also needs to be widely accepted and used by the public. This article examines the difficulties of communicating about vaccine science based on personal experiences and public discussions. My background is rooted in continental Europe, and my perspective may differ from those with other cultural or personal backgrounds. I have been actively involved in public outreach to promote vaccination, driven by my conviction in scientific evidence that shows current vaccines offer a net benefit to both individuals and communities, despite the challenges they present in terms of safety and efficacy in very rare cases, as I discussed in the previous article for this publication.(1) To offer a broader view, I’ve included insights from colleagues gathered through discussions in recent years, but we will still only be able to scratch the surface.

Impact of Vaccination and the Anti-Vaccine Movement on Health in Brazil recorded in 2018.

Impact of Vaccination and the Anti-Vaccine Movement on Health in Brazil recorded in 2018.

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Uptake among Firefighters: An Application of the Health Belief Model.

To assess COVID-19 vaccination prevalence and explore whether health beliefs were associated with vaccination among firefighters. A cross-sectional online survey was distributed to Minnesota firefighters in March - April 2022. Survey questions included demographics, vaccination status, and beliefs about COVID-19 and vaccines. Of the survey respondents (N = 974, 91% male, 89% White), 76% were fully vaccinated and 53% were boosted. Firefighters were less likely to be vaccinated if they reported more perceived barriers (OR = 0.42, p < .001), greater decision-making ease (OR = 0.42, p < .001), and greater autonomy (OR = 0.65, p = .04). Greater perceived benefits (OR = 2.63, p < .001) and social norms (OR = 2.10, p < .001) were associated with a greater likelihood of being vaccinated. Similar results were seen predicting booster status. Firefighters had similar vaccination rates as the general population, despite high exposure risks. Health beliefs are strongly related to vaccination status.

Prevalence and factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among adults in Ghana: a population-based cross-sectional study in the Volta Region

BackgroundVaccines have been instrumental in preventing up to three million deaths globally, according to the WHO. Despite this, COVID-19 vaccine uptake has faced challenges due to vaccine issues, production difficulties, and various socio-demographic, economic, structural, and cultural factors.Objective/aimThis study examined the factors influencing vaccine hesitancy among adults aged 18 and older in the Volta Region of Ghana.MethodsA population-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 590 adults from three districts using multistage sampling. Respondents aged 18 years and above were recruited using a structured questionnaire and an interviewer-administered approach. Data analysis was conducted using STATA version 16. The relationship between the dependent and independent variables was assessed through logistic regression analysis, with statistical significance determined at a p-value of less than 0.05.ResultsA 42.5% rate of vaccine hesitancy was found. Key predictors included being an artisan (aOR = 1.99), a trader (aOR = 3.64), lacking nearby healthcare centres (aOR = 1.52), residing in rural areas (aOR = 0.41), earning less than 500 cedis (aOR = 0.57), and having a larger household size (aOR = 0.37). Not receiving information on vaccine side effects from health personnel (aOR = 5.6) was also a significant factor (p < 0.05).ConclusionTo enhance COVID-19 vaccine uptake and advance towards ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages (SDG 3), healthcare interventions designed by health professionals should address these major predictors.