Global Trends and Correlates of COVID-19 Vaccination Hesitancy: Findings from the iCARE Study
Jovana Stojanovic,
Vincent G. Boucher,
Myriam Gagne,
Samir Gupta,
Keven Joyal-Desmarais,
Stefania Paduano,
Ala’ S. Aburub,
Sherri N. Sheinfeld Gorin,
Angelos P. Kassianos,
Paula A. B. Ribeiro,
Simon L. Bacon,
Kim L. Lavoie
Affiliations
Jovana Stojanovic
Department of Health, Kinesiology & Applied Physiology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada
Vincent G. Boucher
Montreal Behavioural Medicine Centre, Research Centre, Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux du Nord de l’Ile de Montréal (CIUSSS-NIM), Montréal, QC H4J 1C5, Canada
Myriam Gagne
Unity Health Toronto, Department of Medicine, Division of Respirology, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada
Samir Gupta
Unity Health Toronto, Department of Medicine, Division of Respirology, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada
Keven Joyal-Desmarais
Department of Health, Kinesiology & Applied Physiology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada
Stefania Paduano
Section of Public Health, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
Ala’ S. Aburub
Physical Therapy Department, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, Isra University, Queen Alia International Airport South of the Capital Amman, Amman 11622, Jordan
Sherri N. Sheinfeld Gorin
Department of Family Medicine, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Angelos P. Kassianos
Department of Psychology, University of Cyprus, Nicosia 2109, Cyprus
Paula A. B. Ribeiro
Montreal Behavioural Medicine Centre, Research Centre, Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux du Nord de l’Ile de Montréal (CIUSSS-NIM), Montréal, QC H4J 1C5, Canada
Simon L. Bacon
Department of Health, Kinesiology & Applied Physiology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada
Kim L. Lavoie
Montreal Behavioural Medicine Centre, Research Centre, Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux du Nord de l’Ile de Montréal (CIUSSS-NIM), Montréal, QC H4J 1C5, Canada
The success of large-scale COVID-19 vaccination campaigns is contingent upon people being willing to receive the vaccine. Our study explored COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and its correlates in eight different countries around the globe. We analyzed convenience sample data collected between March 2020 and January 2021 as part of the iCARE cross-sectional study. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were conducted to explore the correlates of vaccine hesitancy. We included 32,028 participants from eight countries, and observed that 27% of the participants exhibited vaccine hesitancy, with increases over time. France reported the highest level of hesitancy (47.3%) and Brazil reported the lowest (9.6%). Women, younger individuals (≤29 years), people living in rural areas, and those with a lower perceived income were more likely to be hesitant. People who previously received an influenza vaccine were 70% less likely to report COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. We observed that people reporting greater COVID-19 health concerns were less likely to be hesitant, whereas people with higher personal financial concerns were more likely to be hesitant. Our findings indicate that there is substantial vaccine hesitancy in several countries, with cross-national differences in the magnitude and direction of the trend. Vaccination communication initiatives should target hesitant individuals (women, younger adults, people with lower incomes and those living in rural areas), and should highlight the immediate health, social and economic benefits of vaccination across these settings. Country-level analyses are warranted to understand the complex psychological, socio-environmental, and cultural factors associated with vaccine hesitancy.
