Influence of Information Sources on Chinese Parents Regarding COVID-19 Vaccination for Children: An Online Survey

Kai Li and Fen Zhou
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Kai Li: School of Journalism and Communication, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
Fen Zhou: School of Journalism and Communication, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 12, 1-16

Abstract: (1) Aims: This study explored the mechanism by which exposure to different information sources on social media influences Chinese parents’ intention to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. (2) Methods: We developed a research framework based on the Stimulus–Organism–Response (SOR) theory to illustrate how exposure to information sources on social media increases vaccine confidence and, as a result, parents’ intentions regarding pediatric vaccination. The partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method was used to test the data collected through an online survey (687 valid samples). (3) Results: The government approval of vaccines fuels vaccination confidence and acts as a mediator between (a) mass media, government new media, and key opinion leaders, and (b) perceived effectiveness and side effects (safety) of vaccines. (4) Conclusions: The mass media, government new media, and key opinion leaders are crucial sources for encouraging parents to vaccinate their children since they boost the vaccination trust. The focus of COVID-19 vaccination promotion should be to strengthen parents’ trust in the government, combined with publicizing the effectiveness and side effects (safety) of vaccines.

Keywords: COVID-19 vaccination; parents’ intention to vaccinate children; social media; information sources exposure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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