Intention for COVID-19 vaccination: Predictors and sources of influence

Context: General acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination is needed to end the pandemic, but vaccine hesitancy is a challenge. Identifying predictors of acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines and sources of positive influence on vaccine decisions could inform and guide the efforts to improve vaccination rates.

Objective: 1) To determine the proportion and predictors of vaccine intentions among adults served by our mobile free clinic. 2) To determine the sources of positive influence on vaccine uptake.

Study Design: Cross-sectional (phone-survey) study.

Setting: Mobile free clinic, Athens, GA.

Population studied: Adults with direct phone numbers who tested negative for COVID-19 through our mobile free clinic from 6/1/20-7/9/20 (358 eligible, N=55).

Outcome Measures: Intention to get COVID-19 vaccine once available, overall, and by personal characteristics (age, sex, race, and education) and by potential predictors (receipt of flu or other adult vaccines, health insurance status, worry about impact of the pandemic on health and finances, and frequency of mask wearing, distancing, and hand washing). Associations examined using chi-squared, Fisher’s exact, and logistic regression. Frequency of positive, negative, or no influence on vaccine decisions was examined for health care providers, public health officials, family, friends, political and religious leaders, and news and social media.

Results: Overall, 66% intended to get vaccinated. Reported flu vaccination in the last year was positively associated with COVID-19 vaccine intention (OR 4.4, 95% CI: 1.3-14.7), but reported receipt of other adult vaccines was not. Higher frequency of worry about impact of COVID-19 on health was also positively associated with vaccine intention (always worry 83%; p=0.006). No other significant variations by personal characteristics or listed potential predictors were observed. The largest proportion of adults identified health care providers (66%) and family (62%) as positive influences; social media had the smallest proportion (8% positive, 6% negative) on intention to accept vaccination.

Conclusions: Similar to national averages, 66% of our sample intended to accept a COVID-19 vaccine. Flu vaccination in the last year and worrying about health during the pandemic predicted intention to receive the vaccine. Health care providers were most frequently identified as a positive influence on vaccine uptake, underscoring the importance of their role in recommending COVID-19 vaccinations.