Abstract
Background
High uptake of Covid-19 vaccination is required to reach herd immunity.
Methods
A representative sample of 2,060 Belgians were surveyed in October 2020. Regression analyses identified the predictors associated with willingness to get vaccinated against Covid-19, and attitudes toward vaccination in general.
Results
34% of the participants reported that they will definitely get vaccinated against Covid-19 and 39% that they would “probably”. Intended uptake was strongly associated with age, opinion on the government’s dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, medical risk, spoken language, gender, and to a lesser extent with having known someone who was hospitalised because of Covid-19. Similar predictors were identified for attitudes to vaccination in general. Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy was more marked in age groups below 54 years old. We further analysed a sample of 17% (N = 349) found favourable to vaccination in general but not willing to be vaccinated against Covid-19. They were mainly female, young, French speaking, slightly less educated, working, and did not belong to a Covid-19 risk group. They were very dissatisfied with the government’s dealing with the pandemic, and did not know someone who was hospitalised because of Covid-19.
Conclusions
Vaccine hesitancy was higher for Covid-19 vaccines than for other vaccines. The part of the population being convinced of the utility of vaccination in general but hesitant about the Covid-19 vaccine is a primary interest group for tailored communication campaigns in order to reach the vaccine coverage needed for herd immunity.
High uptake of Covid-19 vaccination is required to reach herd immunity.
Methods
A representative sample of 2,060 Belgians were surveyed in October 2020. Regression analyses identified the predictors associated with willingness to get vaccinated against Covid-19, and attitudes toward vaccination in general.
Results
34% of the participants reported that they will definitely get vaccinated against Covid-19 and 39% that they would “probably”. Intended uptake was strongly associated with age, opinion on the government’s dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, medical risk, spoken language, gender, and to a lesser extent with having known someone who was hospitalised because of Covid-19. Similar predictors were identified for attitudes to vaccination in general. Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy was more marked in age groups below 54 years old. We further analysed a sample of 17% (N = 349) found favourable to vaccination in general but not willing to be vaccinated against Covid-19. They were mainly female, young, French speaking, slightly less educated, working, and did not belong to a Covid-19 risk group. They were very dissatisfied with the government’s dealing with the pandemic, and did not know someone who was hospitalised because of Covid-19.
Conclusions
Vaccine hesitancy was higher for Covid-19 vaccines than for other vaccines. The part of the population being convinced of the utility of vaccination in general but hesitant about the Covid-19 vaccine is a primary interest group for tailored communication campaigns in order to reach the vaccine coverage needed for herd immunity.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 4716-4722 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Vaccine |
Volume | 39 |
Issue number | 33 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 30 Jul 2021 |
Keywords
- Belgium
- Covid-19
- Hesitancy
- Immunisation
- Vaccination