Национальный психологический журнал (Mar 2021)
Eagerness to be vaccinated against coronavirus as an indicator of trust to official medical recommendations: the role of anxiety and beliefs
Abstract
Background. The success of coronavirus vaccination programs is largely determined by people’s willingness to be vaccinated following the official guidelines, which depends on perception of risk, concerns about safety and efficacy, and trust in the source of the recommendations. Objective. To study the subjective readiness for vaccination against coronavirus and its relationship with pandemic anxiety, protective actions, and attitudes towards vaccination. Design. At the end of 2020, 525 people aged 18 to 65 filled out the scales of anxiety and protective actions in the situation of pandemic, anxiety and cognitive beliefs about vaccination, and replied to the questions about their and their relatives’ coronavirus disease experience and their readiness for vaccination. Results. 13.2–17.0% of respondents were ready to be vaccinated against coronavirus, 18.5% had a flu shot in 2020. Low readiness for vaccination was not due to refusal (24.6–30.6%), but to doubts and mistrust (59.0–60.4%) in the context of such dominant emotions as anxiety about the possible negative consequences of vaccination, fear of not receiving medical care and fear of infecting one’s family or friends. Concerns about the need for vaccination are related to suspicions that vaccination is for someone’s benefit and that there are other, better ways of prevention, rather than than to doubts about effectiveness of vaccination or its importance for health. Having more friends who experienced coronavirus disease is associated with higher rates of pandemic anxiety. Severe or fatal cases of coronavirus illness among personal acquaintances is associated with pandemic anxiety and manifestations of over-monitoring signs of illness. Conclusion. The results of the regression analysis suggest that the decision to get vaccinated in the nearest future is based both on cognitive confidence in the importance and effectiveness of vaccination and on less pronounced anxiety about risks and side effects. The readiness to refuse vaccination is mainly due to cognitive beliefs.
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