TY - JOUR
T1 - Understanding the societal factors of vaccine acceptance and hesitancy
T2 - evidence from Hong Kong
AU - Lau, Bobo Hi Po
AU - Yuen, Samson Wai Hei
AU - Yue, Ricci Pak Hong
AU - Grépin, Karen A.
N1 - Funding Information:
This project is funded by ‘Overcoming vaccine hesitancy in Hong Kong’ research initiative from the Baptist University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Royal Society for Public Health
PY - 2022/6
Y1 - 2022/6
N2 - Objectives: Vaccination is considered to be an important public health strategy for controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides subjective evaluations of the vaccine and the health threat, societal factors have been seen as crucial to vaccination decisions. Based on a socioecological perspective, this study examines the role of societal factors in COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Hong Kong. Study design and method: An online survey was fielded between 25 and 28 June 2021, collecting 2753 complete responses. Multinomial logistic regression was conducted to examine how subjective evaluations of the vaccine (summarised by the 5C model – Confidence, Collective responsibility, Constraints, Complacency and Calculation), threat perception, interpersonal influences and institutional trust contribute to explaining three types of decision – acceptant (vaccinated, scheduled or indicated ‘Yes’), hesitant (unvaccinated and indicated ‘Maybe’ on intention) and resistant (unvaccinated and indicated ‘No’). Results: A total of 43.2%, 21.7% and 35.1% of respondents were acceptant, hesitant and resistant. Although the 5C model remained useful in explaining vaccination decisions, respondents were heavily influenced by the decisions of their family, although they were less influenced by friends. Second, respondents tended to accept the vaccine when they had a weaker perception that the act is supportive of the government and were less resistant if they had stronger institutional trust. Conclusion: Under the low-incidence and low-trust environment such as Hong Kong, vaccination decisions are heavily influenced by family's decision and the perception of vaccination as socially and politically desirable. Our findings highlight the importance of a nuanced conception of interpersonal and political influence towards vaccine acceptance/hesitancy.
AB - Objectives: Vaccination is considered to be an important public health strategy for controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides subjective evaluations of the vaccine and the health threat, societal factors have been seen as crucial to vaccination decisions. Based on a socioecological perspective, this study examines the role of societal factors in COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Hong Kong. Study design and method: An online survey was fielded between 25 and 28 June 2021, collecting 2753 complete responses. Multinomial logistic regression was conducted to examine how subjective evaluations of the vaccine (summarised by the 5C model – Confidence, Collective responsibility, Constraints, Complacency and Calculation), threat perception, interpersonal influences and institutional trust contribute to explaining three types of decision – acceptant (vaccinated, scheduled or indicated ‘Yes’), hesitant (unvaccinated and indicated ‘Maybe’ on intention) and resistant (unvaccinated and indicated ‘No’). Results: A total of 43.2%, 21.7% and 35.1% of respondents were acceptant, hesitant and resistant. Although the 5C model remained useful in explaining vaccination decisions, respondents were heavily influenced by the decisions of their family, although they were less influenced by friends. Second, respondents tended to accept the vaccine when they had a weaker perception that the act is supportive of the government and were less resistant if they had stronger institutional trust. Conclusion: Under the low-incidence and low-trust environment such as Hong Kong, vaccination decisions are heavily influenced by family's decision and the perception of vaccination as socially and politically desirable. Our findings highlight the importance of a nuanced conception of interpersonal and political influence towards vaccine acceptance/hesitancy.
KW - COVID-19
KW - Hong Kong
KW - Interpersonal
KW - Political
KW - Societal
KW - Vaccine
KW - Vaccine hesitancy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85129793479&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.puhe.2022.03.013
DO - 10.1016/j.puhe.2022.03.013
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 35486982
AN - SCOPUS:85129793479
SN - 0033-3506
VL - 207
SP - 39
EP - 45
JO - Public Health
JF - Public Health
ER -
