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Epidemiol Health
. 2022 Jul 22;e2022061.
doi: 10.4178/epih.e2022061. Online ahead of print.
Predictors of COVID-19 booster vaccine hesitancy among fully vaccinated adults in South Korea: a nationwide cross-sectional survey
Yunha Noh 1 , Ju Hwan Kim 1 , Dongwon Yoon 1 , Young June Choe 2 , Seung-Ah Choe 3 , Jaehun Jung 4 , Sang-Won Lee 1 , Ju-Young Shin 1
Affiliations
- PMID: 35914771
- DOI: 10.4178/epih.e2022061
Abstract
Objectives: To explore predictors of COVID-19 booster hesitancy among fully vaccinated young adults and parental factors on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy for their children.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted via an online survey from December 2 to 20, 2021. We enrolled participants aged 18-49 years and elapsed ≥2 weeks after completing a primary series of COVID-19 vaccination. We estimated odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using multivariate logistic regressions to evaluate factors associated with booster/vaccine hesitancy.
Results: Among 2,993 participants, 48.8% indicated hesitancy (wait and see: 40.2%; definitely not: 8.7%). The booster hesitancy was more in females (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.05-1.50), younger age group (1.44 [1.17-1.77] at 18-29 years vs. 40-49 years), lower education level (2.05 [1.10-3.82] in no high school vs. graduate degree), mRNA-1273 (2.01, 1.65-2.45 vs. BNT162b2), and those with serious adverse events following previous COVID-19 vaccination (2.03, 1.47-2.80). The main reasons for booster hesitancy were concerns about its safety (54.1%), followed by doubt about the efficacy (29.8%). Among 1,020 respondents who had children aged <18 years, 65.8% indicated COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy for their children; the hesitancy for children was higher at the younger age, and lower at lower education level, ChAdOx1 (vs. BNT162b2), and those with history of COVID-19 infection.
Conclusion: Concerns on the efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines were the major barrier to booster hesitancy. The initial COVID-19 vaccine type, younger age, women, lower education level, and adverse events following COVID-19 vaccine were the key predictors of booster hesitancy.
Keywords: Booster immunization; Coronavirus; Public health; Vaccine hesitancy.