Correlates of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Austria: trust and the government. (5th May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schernhammer, Eva; Weitzer, Jakob; Laubichler, Manfred D; Birmann, Brenda M; Bertau, Martin; Zenk, Lukas; Caniglia, Guido; Jäger, Carlo C; Steiner, Gerald
• Is Part Of: Journal of public health. Volume 44:Number 1(2022)
• Page Start: e106
• Page End: e116
• Publication Date: 2021-05-05
• Subjects: behaviour -- communicable diseases -- vaccine hesitancy -- COVID-19; Public health -- Periodicals; Public health -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Medical policy -- Periodicals; Medical policy -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 362.1
• DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdab122
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1741-3842

Abstract

Abstract: Background: With the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic surging and new mutations evolving, trust in vaccines is essential. Methods: We explored correlates of vaccine hesitancy, considering political believes and psychosocial concepts, conducting a non-probability quota-sampled online survey with 1007 Austrians. Results: We identified several important correlates of vaccine hesitancy, ranging from demographics to complex factors such as voting behavior or trust in the government. Among those with hesitancy towards a COVID-19 vaccine, having voted for opposition parties (opp) or not voted (novote) were (95% Confidence Intervall (CI)opp, 1.44–2.95) to 2.25-times (95%CInovote, 1.53–3.30) that of having voted for governing parties. Only 46.2% trusted the Austrian government to provide safe vaccines, and 80.7% requested independent scientific evaluations regarding vaccine safety to increase willingness to vaccine. Conclusions: Contrary to expected, psychosocial dimensions were only weakly correlated with vaccine hesitancy. However, the strong correlation between distrust in the vaccine and distrust in authorities suggests a common cause of disengagement from public discourse.