Introduction
The success of a safe, efficacious coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine will depend on uptake; if there are individuals who are reluctant or unwilling to be immunised, uptake will be limited. A low level of intent to be vaccinated can be understood within the concept of hesitancy, the behavioural ‘delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite availability of vaccine services’ (SAGE Working Group on Vaccine Hesitancy, 2014). There is a continuum from acceptance to refusal of all vaccines, with vaccine hesitancy considered to reside between the two poles, and potential variation within individuals in stance on vaccination for different diseases. Vaccine hesitancy can have effects for both the individual (a greater risk of having the disease) and potentially the community (greater virus transmission). In this paper, by assessing expressed willingness to receive an approved vaccine, we wished to estimate in the UK the level of potential COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy (delay or refusal) and identify groups within the population in which it may be higher. Our primary focus was on explaining vaccine hesitancy at an individual psychological level in order to inform strategies to increase acceptance rates. Beliefs, which are potentially amenable to change, are well-established drivers of actions. Therefore, we focussed on identifying a broad cluster of cognitions that may inhibit or facilitate uptake of a COVID-19 vaccine. In essence, we wished to estimate the extent of the potential problem, identify pockets of pronounced hesitancy, and determine the content of key cognitions driving vaccine hesitancy.
In early May 2020, our first Oxford Coronavirus Explanations, Attitudes, and Narratives Survey (OCEANS) was focussed on coronavirus conspiracy beliefs and adherence to government social distancing guidelines (Freeman et al., Reference Freeman, Waite, Rosebrock, Petit, Causier, East and Lambe2020). When survey respondents were asked whether they would accept a COVID-19 vaccine, 47.5% responded definitely, 22.1% probably, 18.4% possibly, 7.3% probably not, and 4.8% definitely not. Higher levels of vaccine hesitancy were associated with higher levels of coronavirus conspiracy beliefs. A connection between vaccine hesitancy and conspiracy beliefs has been replicated (Bertin et al., Reference Bertin, Nera and Delouvée2020), and is consistent with work showing that a conspiracy mentality is associated with rejection of vaccine science (Lewandowsky et al., Reference Lewandowsky, Gignac and Oberauer2013). In a UK survey conducted in July 2020, 2,237 people were asked how likely they would be to get a coronavirus vaccine (The Policy Institute, 2020); 30% of participants responded that they would be certain to get a vaccine, 23% very likely, 20% fairly likely, 9% not very likely, 3% not at all likely, 4% definitely not, and 11% did not know. These initial studies indicate that approximately 70% of the UK population are likely to accept a COVID-19 vaccine relatively readily, 20% may be ambivalent, and 10% are unlikely to accept a vaccine.
Vaccine hesitancy is typically viewed within the framework of complacency, confidence, and convenience, although it is notable that this is a complex research area in which terms, definitions, and measurement can vary in usage (Bedford et al., Reference Bedford, Attwell, Danchin, Marshall, Corben and Leask2018; Dudley et al., Reference Dudley, Privor-Dumm, Dubé and MacDonald2020). At the heart, an individual's decision as to whether to accept a vaccine can be understood as a weighing up of risk and benefit. Vaccine hesitancy is seen when there is a low perception of need for a vaccination (termed complacency) and concerns over the efficacy and safety (termed low confidence) (e.g. Larson et al., Reference Larson, Schulz, Tucker and Smith2015; Crouse Quinn et al., Reference Crouse Quinn, Jamison, An, Hancock and Freimuth2019; Karlsson et al., Reference Karlsson, Lewandowsky, Antfolk, Salo, Lindfelt, Oksanen and Soveri2019; Mesch & Schwirian, Reference Mesch and Schwirian2019). A lack of confidence in a vaccine is exacerbated by misunderstanding of how immunisation works (e.g. Zingg & Siergrist, Reference Zingg and Siergrist2012), distrust of government and healthcare authorities (e.g. Lee et al., Reference Lee, Whetten, Omer, Pan and Salmon2016), and newness of a vaccine (e.g. Karafillakisa et al., Reference Karafillakisa, Simasa, Jarrett, Verger, Peretti-Watel, Dib and Larson2019). Added to the balance is consideration of how easy it is to access a vaccine (termed convenience) (e.g. Fournet et al., Reference Fournet, Mollema, Ruijs, Harmsen, Keck, Durand and van Steenbergen2018). Social processes such as norms, altruistic intent, and collective responsibility, have also been highlighted (Brewer et al., Reference Brewer, Chapman, Rothman, Leask and Kempe2017; Crouse Quinn, Hilyard et al., Reference Crouse Quinn, Hilyard, Jamison, An, Hancock, Musa and Freimuth2017; Betsch et al., Reference Betsch, Schmid, Heinemeier, Korn, Holtmann and Böhm2018).
We wished to build on this framework to understand COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. In relation to a future UK approved COVID-19 vaccine, we aimed to assess a range of specific beliefs about the importance, benefits, and safety (i.e. complacency and confidence). There are specific aspects of the current epidemic that may affect complacency (e.g. inaccurate severity analogies to seasonal influenza) and confidence (e.g. speed of vaccine development). As the UK has universal free at point of access healthcare provision, we did not focus on convenience, although we did include questions concerning access via general practitioner surgeries, pharmacies, and schools, which are the most likely delivery routes. We also added an additional approach to assessing specific beliefs about the benefits and risks of a COVID-19 vaccine: general trust and mistrust. In essence, willingness to take a vaccine is about trust: that the vaccine is needed, that it will work, and that it is safe. Therefore, unwillingness to take a vaccine will be more likely when excessive mistrust is an individual's default position. If an individual is mistrustful of experts, authority, and institutions, the same tendency will apply to attitudes to a vaccination. Distrust will be more likely when individuals (i) generally feel disrespected and vulnerable to exploitation (marginalised), (ii) view doctors as looking down on them, (iii) hold conspiracy beliefs, (iv) hold particular worldviews (e.g. individualism), and (v) are discontented (e.g. express a ‘need for chaos’). Therefore, we conducted a new survey of the UK population, in which we assessed willingness to be vaccinated for COVID-19 (as a marker of vaccine hesitancy) and a wide range of explanatory factors. We hypothesised that vaccine hesitancy would be closely connected to specific confidence and complacency beliefs about a COVID-19 vaccine and also associated with wider makers of mistrust.
Methods
Participants
An online survey with a new quota sampled UK participant group of 5,114 adults (18+ years old) was conducted from 24th September to the 17th October 2020 via a market research company. The quotas were based on UK Office for National Statistics population estimate data for gender, age, ethnicity, income, and region. Invited respondents did not know the topic of the survey before provisional agreement to complete it. OCEANSII was approved by the University of Oxford Central University Research Ethics Committee. (See online supplementary materials for further survey detail.)
Assessments
All of the assessment items included in the survey, the details of the factor analyses, the items that comprise each factor, and Cronbach's alphas can be viewed in the online supplementary materials.
Oxford COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy scale
There was no existing scale to assess expressed intent to accept a COVID-19 vaccine. We therefore developed a pool of 15 items (see online supplementary materials), with feedback from public involvement groups including representatives from ethnic minority health groups. Item-specific response options (Saris et al., Reference Saris, Krosnick, Revilla and Shae2010), coded from 1 to 5, were used. A ‘Don't know’ option was also provided, which was excluded from scoring. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to derive a final seven-item scale from the item pool (Figure 3). Higher scores indicate a higher level of vaccine hesitancy.
Oxford COVID-19 vaccine confidence and complacency scale
We developed, with public involvement in item generation, 20 items concerning attitudes around vaccine complacency and confidence. Item-specific response options (Saris et al., Reference Saris, Krosnick, Revilla and Shae2010), coded from 1 to 5, were used. A ‘Don't know’ option was also provided, which was excluded from scoring. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses identified four factors: collective importance of a COVID-19 vaccine; beliefs that the respondent may get COVID-19 and the vaccine will work; speed of vaccine development; and side effects. Higher scores indicate a greater degree of negative attitudes.
Vaccine hesitancy scale
This scale (Shapiro et al., Reference Shapiro, Tatar, Dube, Amsel, Knauper, Naz and Rosberger2018) was included to test convergent validity with the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy scale. The nine-item VHS asks parents about their views of childhood vaccines, and we re-worded the scale where appropriate to make it suitable for all survey respondents. A one-factor solution emerged. Each item was rated on a 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree) scale. Higher scores indicate greater hesitancy.
Vaccination knowledge scale
This questionnaire presents individuals with nine statements about vaccines that they are asked to rate as correct, incorrect, or do not know (Zingg & Siergrist, Reference Zingg and Siergrist2012). Factor analysis identified two factors: general knowledge about vaccines and knowledge about childhood vaccines. Incorrect or do not know are scored as zero and correct is scored as one. Therefore, higher scores indicate better knowledge of vaccines.
Oxford trust in doctors and developers questionnaire
We developed 11 new items about inter-personal disrespect from doctors and 5 items about mistrust of vaccine developers. Each item was rated on a 1 (disagree completely) to 4 (agree completely) scale, with a ‘don't know’ option that was not scored. Factor analysis indicated three factors: interpersonal disrespect by doctors; respect from doctors and negative views of vaccine developers. Higher scores indicated greater disrespect from doctors, less respect from doctors, and greater negative views of vaccine developers.
Attitudes to doctors and medicine questionnaire
Nineteen items about doctors and medicine are rated on a scale from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (6) (Marteau, Reference Marteau1990). Confirmatory factor analysis supported a four-factor model: positive attitude to doctors; negative attitude to doctors; positive attitude to medicine; and negative attitude to medicine. Higher scores indicate greater positive attitudes to doctors or medicine and greater negative attitudes to doctors or medicine.
The MacArthur scale of subjective social status
Two separate items assess where people view themselves on a social ladder relative to other people in the UK or relative to other people in their community (Adler et al., Reference Adler, Epel, Castellazzo and Ickovics2000). Each item is rated 0−10. Higher scores were coded to indicate lower subjective social status.
Brief core schema scales
Twelve items assess beliefs about self, rated on a scale from do not believe (0) to believe it totally (4) (Fowler et al., Reference Fowler, Freeman, Smith, Kuipers, Bebbington, Bashforth and Garety2006). Confirmatory factor analysis indicated a negative self-factor and a positive self-factor. Higher scores reflect greater endorsement of items.
General practice assessment questionnaire-R2
Eight items were used from this questionnaire, assessing how the person has been treated by their GP (Roland et al., Reference Roland, Roberts, Rhenius and Campbell2013). Each item is rated on a scale from very good (1) to very poor (5). Factor analysis indicated a one-factor solution concerning positive GP experiences. Higher scores indicate fewer positive GP experiences.
NHS experience questionnaire
We developed eight items assessing positive and negative experiences of the NHS. Each item is rated on a three-point scale, from No (1) to Yes (3). Factor analysis identified two factors: positive NHS experiences; and negative NHS experiences. Higher scores indicate fewer positive NHS experiences, and greater negative NHS experiences.
OCEANS coronavirus conspiracy scale
From the first OCEANS study, we developed a seven-item general coronavirus conspiracy scale and a 14-item-specific coronavirus conspiracy scale (Freeman et al., Reference Freeman, Waite, Rosebrock, Petit, Causier, East and Lambe2020). Each item was rated on a scale from do not agree (1) to agree completely (5). We also added a ‘Don't know’ response option, which was not included in the score. Higher scores indicate greater endorsement of coronavirus conspiracy beliefs. We only used the general conspiracy scale for the explanatory modelling. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed a single factor.
Vaccine conspiracy beliefs scale
This seven-item questionnaire asks participants how much they agree on a seven-point scale with vaccine conspiracy statements (Shapiro et al., Reference Shapiro, Holding, Perez, Amsel and Rosberger2016). A one-factor CFA model indicated a good fit for the seven items. Higher scores indicate greater endorsement of conspiracy statements.
Everyday discrimination scale
Individuals rate on a scale from almost everyday (1) to never (6) how often nine negative experiences happen to them (Williams et al., Reference Williams, Yu, Jackson and Anderson1997). Factor analysis indicated two factors: others disrespectful and others react negatively. Higher scores indicate fewer negative experiences.
Dimensions of anger reactions-5
Anger is assessed with five items, rated on a scale from 1 (none) to 5 (all of the time) (Forbes et al., Reference Forbes, Alkemade, Mitchell, Elhai, McHugh, Bates and Lewis2014). CFA resulted in a single factor with good model fit. Higher scores indicate higher levels of anger.
Need for chaos
Eleven items assessing ‘need for chaos’, understood as a desire to bring down the established political order in order to increase one's own social status, are rated on a scale from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (7) (Petersen et al., Reference Petersen, Osmundsen and Arceneaux2020). A one-factor CFA resulted in an excellent fit. Higher scores indicate a higher level of need for chaos.
Lifestyle and economic/government liberty
Seven items assessing libertarian worldviews were rated on a scale from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (6) (Iyer et al., Reference Iyer, Koleva, Graham, Ditto and Haidt2012). Factor analysis identified a one-factor solution. Higher scores indicate greater libertarian beliefs.
Populist attitudes
Five items assessed populist views, each rated on a scale from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (6) (Akkerman et al., Reference Akkerman, Mudde and Zaslove2014). Factor analysis identified a one-factor model. Higher scores indicate a greater level of populist beliefs.
Perceived religious influence on health behaviour and illness as punishment by God for sin
This questionnaire contains two separate scales concerning the influence of religion on an individual's health views (Holt et al., Reference Holt, Clark, Roth, Crowther, Kohler, Fouad and Southward2009). Each of the 15 items is rated on a scale from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (4). Factor analysis identified a religious influence on health behaviour factor and an illness as punishment for sin factor. Higher scores indicate higher influence of religion on health behaviour and greater belief in illness as punishment.
Following of UK government coronavirus guidance
Participants were asked to rate how often they followed nine key aspects of government guidance at the time on a five-point scale. Higher scores indicate greater adherence to guidance. Participants were also asked to rate on the same scale two general items assessing how much they follow the guidance. Participants were also asked to rate on a five-point scale how likely it was that they would accept a COVID-19 diagnostic test and a COVID-19 antibody test. Higher scores on these two items indicate less likelihood of accepting the tests.
Analysis
Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to assess two explanatory models. The first was between beliefs about a COVID-19 vaccine and hesitancy, and the second was between the broader psychological constructs of mistrust and vaccine hesitancy. SEM comprises a confirmatory measurement model, also known as the confirmation factor analysis (CFA), which estimates the relations among latent constructs and their observed indicators, and a structural model, which estimates the relations among constructs (Kline, Reference Kline2015). The lavaan R package was used to conduct the SEM analysis (Rosseel, Reference Rosseel2012). We utilised the full information maximum likelihood (FIML) estimation procedure with robust (Huber−White) standard errors and a scaled test statistic to estimate the SEM models. In assessing the relations among constructs in the structural model, we employed a backward elimination procedure to reduce multicollinearity issues (Hocking, Reference Hocking1976; Grewal et al., Reference Grewal, Cote and Baumgartner2004). Full details of the SEM methods can be seen in the online supplementary materials.
Results
A summary of the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants is provided in Table 1.
Socio-demographic information
Frequency of vaccine hesitancy
The mean score on the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy scale was 13.6 (SD=7.3). The factor score for the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy scale was significantly associated with the factor score for the vaccine hesitancy scale, r=0.47, p < 0.001. The frequencies of endorsement of each of the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy scale items are summarised in Table 2.
Endorsement of vaccine hesitancy items
In all, 3892 (76.1%) participants did not endorse any clear vaccine hesitancy response (a response rating of 4 or 5) on any of the seven items, while 1222 (23.9%) endorsed at least one of the items with a hesitant response. Further, 596 (11.7%) participants endorsed four or more of the seven items (i.e. over half) with a clear vaccine hesitancy response (a rating of 4 or 5). This group can be considered strongly vaccine hesitant. 196 (3.8%) participants endorsed all seven items with a clear vaccine hesitancy response, and this can be considered a very extreme group.
4193 (82.0%) participants endorsed at least one of the seven items with a clear positive response (a rating of 1 or 2), while 921 (18.0%) did not rate any of the items with a clear positive response. 3669 (71.7%) participants endorsed four or more of the seven items with a clear positive response (a rating of 1 or 2). This group can be considered clearly positive about a COVID-19 vaccine. 2823 (55.2%) participants endorsed all seven items with a clear positive response.
1842 (36.0%) participants endorsed at least one of the items with the middle response (a rating of 3), while 3272 (64.0%) did not endorse any middle responses. 466 (9.1%) participants endorsed four or more of the seven items with the middle response. This group can be considered as consistently very unsure about a COVID-19 vaccine.
737 (14.4%) participants endorsed at least one of the items with a do not know response, while 4377 (85.6%) did not use this response option. 106 (2.1%) participants endorsed four or more of the seven items with a do not know response. This group can also be considered as consistently very unsure.
There were also individuals who showed two different sets of three consistent responses (but no set of four consistent responses). 34 (0.7%) participants endorsed extreme hesitancy responses (a response rating of 4 or 5) for three of the seven items and three undecided middle options, 47 (0.9%) endorsed three clear positive responses (a rating of 1 or 2) and three undecided middle options, 19 (0.4%) endorsed three undecided middle options and three don't know options, and 11 (0.2%) endorsed three clear positive and three clear negative views.
In summary, 71.7% of the population responded in a consistently positive way towards taking a COVID-19 vaccine, 16.6% were very unsure about taking a COVID-19 vaccine, and 11.7% were strongly hesitant.
Vaccine hesitancy and socio-demographic factors
The associations of vaccine hesitancy and socio-demographic factors, tested in individual linear regressions, are summarised in Table 3. Vaccine hesitancy is associated with lower age, female gender, lower education, lower income, black and mixed ethnicities, not being single or widowed, not being a homeowner, not being employed full-time, not retired, a change in working, and having a child at school. The R 2 scores indicate that each variable explains only a small percentage of vaccine hesitancy, with age explaining the highest amount (3.8%). When all the socio-demographic variables were entered into a multiple regression (see online supplementary materials), the R 2 was 0.098. COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was significantly lower in those at very high risk of a severe COVID-19 illness course compared with those at moderate risk or low risk, and those at moderate risk were significantly lower in hesitancy scores than those at low risk of a severe illness course. There was no evidence of interactions between age, gender, and income in explaining vaccine hesitancy (p > 0.1). Hesitancy was not associated with political views, but more right-wing political views were associated with coronavirus conspiracy beliefs, B=0.093, standard error=0.007, Beta=0.17, p < 0.001, R 2=0.03. A hierarchical regression showed that both the linear political item, B=−0.115, standard error=0.030, Beta=0.21, p < 0.001, and a quadratic term (the political item squared), B=0.026, standard error=0.004, Beta=0.40, p < 0.001 were significant predictors of general coronavirus conspiracy scores.
Associations of demographic factors with vaccine hesitancy (individual regressions).
Vaccine hesitancy and adherence to distancing guidelines
Higher levels of vaccine hesitancy are associated with less following of all guidelines and less likelihood of taking a diagnostic or antibody test (all p-values<0.001) (see Table 4).
Individual correlations of government social distancing guidelines with vaccine hesitancy (all p-values <0.001).
Conspiracy belief endorsement
Tables 5 and 6 provide a summary of prevalence rates for misinformation and conspiracy beliefs about the pandemic and vaccinations. It can be seen that there is appreciable endorsement of coronavirus conspiracy beliefs and vaccination conspiracy beliefs.
Endorsement of coronavirus conspiracy beliefs (OCEANS coronavirus conspiracy scale).
Endorsement of general vaccination conspiracy beliefs (vaccine conspiracy beliefs scale).
Vaccine hesitancy explanatory factors
The simple associations of the factor scores for vaccine hesitancy and the explanatory factors are shown in Table 6. Every factor score was significantly associated with vaccine hesitancy (p < 0.001) (Table 7).
Individual correlations of explanatory factor scores with vaccine hesitancy (all p-values < 0.001).
Model 1: Beliefs about a COVID-19 vaccine
There were high correlations between the four factors derived for beliefs about a COVID-19 vaccine (assessed by the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine confidence and complacency scale) (see online supplementary materials, Table S1). Therefore, the four factors were merged into a higher-order construct labelled as ‘Beliefs about a COVID-19 vaccine’. The CFA model with a higher-order construct suggested a very good model fit (FIML, χ2(73, N= 5081)=1094.88, p < 0.001, RMSEA=0.05; SRMR=0.03; CFI=0.97; TLI=0.96). The strongest individual factor contributing to the higher-order factor was beliefs about the collective importance of a COVID-19 vaccine. The data were subsequently fitted to the hypothesised structural model and the fit indexes indicated an excellent model fit (FIML, χ2(184, N=5109)=2220.53, p < 0.001, RMSEA=0.05; SRMR=0.03; CFI=0.97; TLI=0.97). Beliefs about a COVID-19 vaccine are a major predictor of vaccine hesitancy (unstandardised b=1.63, standard error=0.05, p < 0.001), accounting for 86% of the variance in vaccine hesitancy. The SEM model diagram with factor loadings and the standardised regression weights is shown in Figure 1 (also see online supplementary materials, Table S2).
Structural equation model 1: Beliefs about a COVID-19 vaccine and vaccine hesitancy.
Note: *p < 0.01, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.
IMP = collective importance; SPD = speed of development; WRK = vaccine will be effective; S.EF = side effects; VAC.HES = vaccine hesitancy.
Model 2: Mistrust and vaccine hesitancy
The initial CFA model indicated a very good model fit (FIML, χ2(5307, N=5,114)=20532.83, p < 0.001, RMSEA=0.02; SRMR=0.05; CFI=0.95; TLI=0.95). However, inspection of the factor correlations in the CFA model revealed several factors correlating substantially amongst the latent constructs (see online supplementary materials, Table S3). These factors were merged into two distinct higher-order factors. The higher-order factors were termed as ‘Mistrust’ and ‘Positive Healthcare’, respectively. The resulting model with two higher-order factors indicated adequate fit (FIML, χ2(5481, N=5114)=27070.50, p < 0.001, RMSEA=0.03; SRMR=0.07; CFI=0.93; TLI=0.93). Details of this SEM model can be found in online supplementary materials, Table S4 and Fig. S1.
The backward elimination procedure reduced the number of predictors from 14 to 10. Direct effects of four factors (religious influence on health behaviour, others reacting negatively, libertarian beliefs, and populist beliefs) were fixed to zero in the structural model. The SEM model after this backward elimination procedure indicated reasonable fit (FIML, χ2(5697, N=5114)=28926.01, p < 0.001, RMSEA=0.03; SRMR=0.07; CFI=0.93; TLI=0.93). Since the reduced SEM model is considered nested from the baseline model where the relations between the constructs were freely estimated, an analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to test for the best-fitting model from all the models, which indicated that the final reduced model (SEM model 5) was preferable.
Further review of the beta estimates suggested that several predictors may be acting as suppressors (see online supplementary materials). Thus, the direct effects of five predictors (negative self, anger, illness as punishment, others disrespectful, positive self) were fixed to zero in the structural model. The variance inflation factor and tolerance levels of all remaining variables were less than 5 and tolerance values greater than 0.1, indicating an absence of multicollinearity (see online supplementary materials, Table S7). The final SEM model indicated reasonable fit to the data (FIML, χ2(5702, N=5114)=29308.76, p < 0.001, RMSEA=0.03; SRMR=0.070; CFI=0.93; TLI=0.92) and the variance explained by the structural model was 32%. Online supplementary materials, Table S8 summarises the parameter estimates of the structural model. The reduced SEM model (i.e. SEM model 5) is shown in Figure 2. The higher-order factors had the strongest associations with vaccine hesitancy. The higher-order factor of positive experiences of healthcare was associated with lower levels of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy; the higher-order factor of mistrust was associated with higher levels of COVID-19 hesitancy. A lower subjective sense of self in relation to others (the UK or community) was also associated with greater vaccine hesitancy.
Structural equation model 2 (final): Mistrust.
Note: *p < 0.01, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.
CVK = Knowledge about childhood vaccinations; GEN.K = general knowledge about vaccines; DIS.DOC = interpersonal disrespect from doctors; NEG.VD = negative views of vaccine developers; NHS.NEG= negative experiences of NHS care; CHAOS = need for chaos; C19.CON = coronavirus general conspiracy beliefs; VAC.CON = vaccination conspiracy beliefs; RES.DOC = respect from doctors; POS.DOC = positive attitudes to doctors; NHS.POS = positive NHS experiences; POS.MED = positive attitudes to medication; GP.POS = positive GP experiences; MISTRUST = higher order excessive mistrust factor; +VE HC = higher-order positive healthcare experiences factor; SLF.COM = subjective sense of social status in community; SLF.UK = subjective sense of social status in UK; VAC.HES = vaccine hesitancy.
Oxford Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy scale.
Discussion
The substantial majority view in the UK public that vaccines are safe, effective, and important remains intact, but appears vulnerable given the presence of significant proportions of the population either very doubtful or rejecting of a COVID-19 vaccine. The danger is of a tipping point being approached, whereby mistrust of vaccines becomes mainstream, with negative consequences for individuals, healthcare services, and potentially herd immunity. With the caution that this was an online non-probability survey, the majority of the population – around 72% − are likely to accept reasonably readily a COVID-19 vaccine. It is possible that this majority will remain robust in the months ahead, but this is likely to be tested. The remainder of the population, a sizeable minority, are clearly very ambivalent (17%) about a COVID-19 vaccine or are unlikely to take it (12%). Around one in 20 people would even describe themselves as explicitly anti-vaccination for COVID-19. When the time comes, the behaviour of those who are ambivalent about a vaccination will be a defining factor in the success of implementation of an approved vaccine. Socio-demographics do not explain vaccine hesitancy to any helpful degree. Doubt is spread relatively evenly in the population − it is not circumscribed to specific groups − which may be another indicator of the issue being at a tipping point. The understanding of the causes of vaccine hesitancy has never been more important.
There are a set of beliefs, tightly bound to willingness to take a COVID-19 vaccine, that are plausible drivers of vaccine up-take. Fused with acceptance of a vaccine are beliefs about the collective importance: that a vaccine will save lives, help the community, and that it will be dangerous if many people do not get vaccinated. This chimes with evidence that emphasising collective − rather than personal – responsibility may lead to greater change in individuals’ behaviour (e.g. Obradovich & Guenther, Reference Obradovich and Guenther2016). Pro-social behaviour may be especially self-rewarding and therefore affect behaviour (e.g. Aknin et al., Reference Aknin, Hamlin and Dunn2012). Betsch and colleagues (Reference Betsch, Böhm, Korn and Holtmann2015) in an online experiment with fictitious disease scenarios found that explaining the social benefits of herd immunity can increase intent to be vaccinated. In the OCEAN survey, beliefs about whether a vaccine will provide freedom or restriction were part of the collective importance factor too. There were three other key types of beliefs about a COVID-19 vaccine: if a respondent thought it likely that they would be infected and the vaccine would work; whether speed of development of the vaccine would affect safety and efficacy; and the degree to which receiving the vaccine may be physically unpleasant and that the recipient would feel experimented on. All these findings are highly consistent with the framing in the vaccine hesitancy literature of the importance of complacency and confidence in vaccine decision-making.
We also set out to determine the more distal individual factors that may affect vaccine up-take. The hypothesis was that mistrust may skew vaccine decision making. The modelling indicated a key higher-order factor of excessive mistrust that was associated with vaccine hesitancy. This factor included coronavirus conspiracy beliefs, which were at a troubling prevalence comparable to our first OCEAN survey in May (Freeman et al., Reference Freeman, Waite, Rosebrock, Petit, Causier, East and Lambe2020). We also note that a significant minority hold general vaccine conspiracy beliefs, while an even higher proportion is neutral as to whether vaccine conspiracy beliefs are true or false. These fringe beliefs do appear to have become mainstream. Negative perceptions of doctors (‘They do not really care about me’), vaccine developers (‘They just want to make money’), and healthcare experiences (‘The NHS treats my community badly’) feed into the distrust. There also appears to be a contribution of anger: a need for chaos (‘I think society should be burned to the ground’), anger directed at societal structures, contributed to the higher-order factor. Individuals who were vaccine hesitant also viewed themselves as lower on the social ladder, indicating a degree of perception of vulnerability with regards to other people. Against this mistrust and vulnerability, perceived positive healthcare experiences were connected to lower vaccine hesitancy. Positive GP experiences (‘My GP is polite and considerate’), views of doctors (‘They have my best interests at heart’), medicine (‘The improved health of the nation is due to effective medicine’), and NHS experiences (‘Staff have gone out of their way to help’) were connected with greater enthusiasm about a COVID-19 vaccine. In sum, factors that erode trust in healthcare and society are likely to be pernicious for vaccine up-take but positive experiences of institutions, those that rebuild trust, are likely to maintain the consensus of the importance of being vaccinated.
The overall immediate implications of our explanatory work are the potential importance of emphasising in public health messaging the prosocial benefits of a COVID-19 vaccine, as well as the necessity to be transparent about safety and efficacy. Public health communication may need to be carefully attuned to the different kinds of collective identities and benefits in order to resonate with pro-social motives. In this way, such messaging may not only help consolidate the majority willing to be vaccinated but perhaps increase the willingness of those who are hesitant. Careful testing and refining of messaging across the spectrum of hesitancy will be needed. The survey findings also indicate that materials may benefit from highlighting the many positive contributions that NHS staff make. There is an urgent need to counter misinformation, ideally by ‘prebunking’ or inoculation (Wong, Reference Wong2016; van der Linden et al., Reference van der Linden, Maibach, Cook, Leiserowitz and Lewandowsky2017), and provide strong presentation of accurate information. The findings also reiterate the longer-term work needed to rebuild trust in experts and institutions. However there are limitations to the survey. Foremost, we used a non-probability online quota sampling method, which will have introduced bias to who was approached to take part. We do know that, taken as a whole, the respondents in this survey were broadly representative of the adult general population on a number of basic demographic features (although, for example, levels of higher education were slightly high) but not that individual respondents were representative of the general population. This means that prevalence estimates especially must be treated with caution, as well as the identification of demographic predictors. It is plausible that the survey method will have introduced less bias into the explanatory parts of the study (Pasek, Reference Pasek2015). A further caution concerns our primary measure: we do not know the extent to which expressed intent to take a vaccine is associated with actual behaviour. The key limitation for the conclusions concerning the explanatory variables is that the survey is cross-sectional. We do not know whether the beliefs, attitudes, and perceived experiences actually cause willingness to take a COVID-19 vaccine. Our plan is to use detailed qualitative interviewing, guided by the results of the survey, to deepen our understanding of vaccine hesitancy, and then conduct experimental tests to assess change and causation.
Supplementary material
The supplementary material for this article can be found at https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291720005188
Acknowledgements
The project was funded by a grant from the University of Oxford COVID-19 Research Response Fund (Project Reference: 0009519). It was also supported by an award from the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) invention for innovation (i4i) programme (Project II-C7-0117-20001) and the NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre (BRC-1215-20005). DF is supported by an NIHR Research Professorship (NIHR-RP-2014-05-003). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the National Health Service, NIHR, or the Department of Health. Alberto Giubilini is supported by an UKRI/AHRC grant (AH/V006819/1).
Conflicts of Interest
AJP is Chair of UK Dept. Health and Social Care's (DHSC) Joint Committee on Vaccination & Immunisation (JCVI), but does not participate in discussions on COVID19 vaccines, and is a member of the WHO's SAGE. The views expressed in this paper do not necessarily represent the views of DHSC, JCVI, or WHO. Oxford University has entered into a partnership with Astra Zeneca for the development of a coronavirus vaccine.
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