People's perspectives about COVID-19 vaccination certificate: Findings from a representative Italian sample. Issue 51 (5th December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Caserotti, Marta; Gavaruzzi, Teresa; Girardi, Paolo; Sellaro, Roberta; Rubaltelli, Enrico; Tasso, Alessandra; Lotto, Lorella
• Is Part Of: Vaccine. Volume 40:Issue 51(2022)
• Page Start: 7406
• Page End: 7414
• Publication Date: 2022-12-05
• Subjects: COVID-19 public policy -- Vaccine hesitancy -- COVID-19 vaccination certificate -- Medical expenses -- Risk perception -- Judgment and decision-making; COVID-19 COronaVIrus Disease 2019 -- CLM Cumulative Logistic Model -- EFA Exploratory Factorial Analysis -- PEC Profile of Emotional Competence -- OROV Openness to Revising One's Viewpoint -- SARS-CoV-2 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome COronaVirus 2 -- WTV Willingness To be Vaccinated; Vaccines -- Periodicals; 615.372
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.08.016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-410X

Abstract

Highlights: An Italian representative sample (N = 1, 530) took part in the survey. We investigated people support towards a COVID-19 vaccination certificate. We investigated support for charging medical expenses to unvaccinated people. COVID-19 vaccine status strongly impact the support towards the two measures. COVID-19 vaccination certificate and medical expenses are predicted almost by the same factors. Abstract: In Italy, like in other countries, issues still exist regarding how to reach high vaccine coverage and several countries have considered policies to increase vaccine uptake. In the present study, we focused on people who have a favorable attitude towards vaccination. In March-April 2021, we asked a representative sample of Italian participants (N = 1, 530) to assess to what extent they would support the adoption of a COVID-19 vaccination certificate, excluding unvaccinated people from participating in public and cultural events. Furthermore, as the vaccination coverage increases, severe forms of COVID-19 requiring hospitalization more likely involve unvaccinated individuals, who might be perceived as those who don't contribute to ending the pandemic and who constitute a significant health cost for society. We then asked participants to assess to what extent they would favor the idea of requiring people who refuse the vaccine to pay for their own medical expenses in case of hospitalization. We hypothesized that support for the adoption of the vaccination certificate would be predicted by the COVID-19 vaccination status (received, booked, high-, medium-, low-willingness to be vaccinated, or refused) and by the same factors that are known to affect the willingness to get vaccinated. These factors were also tested in a model aimed at investigating if a vaccinated person would favor a measure requiring the unvaccinated individuals to pay for medical expenses. Results confirmed that the support towards the vaccination certificate policy was strongly predicted by the vaccination status and by factors known to affect the willingness to get vaccinated. Interestingly (and surprisingly), a similar pattern was observed for the support of the policy about medical expenses. In conclusion, support for a COVID-19 vaccination certificate was high among the Italian population in the early phases of the vaccination rollout. The findings are discussed considering potential policies to tackle the pandemic.