From Isolation to Containment: Perceived Fear of Infectivity and Protective Behavioral Changes during the COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign

Arielle Kaim, Maya Siman-Tov, Eli Jaffe and Bruria Adini
Additional contact information
Arielle Kaim: Department of Emergency and Disaster Management, Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, Sackler Tel Aviv University, P.O. Box 39040, Tel Aviv 6139001, Israel
Maya Siman-Tov: Department of Emergency and Disaster Management, Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, Sackler Tel Aviv University, P.O. Box 39040, Tel Aviv 6139001, Israel
Eli Jaffe: Public Relations, Training and Volunteers Division, Magen David Adom, Igal Alon 70, Tel Aviv 6706215, Israel
Bruria Adini: Department of Emergency and Disaster Management, Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, Sackler Tel Aviv University, P.O. Box 39040, Tel Aviv 6139001, Israel

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 12, 1-12

Abstract: In the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, maintenance of protective behavior is a continued challenge in the effort to contain the spread of the virus. A cross-sectional study via an internet questionnaire was utilized to elucidate changes in compliance to protective behavior among the Israeli population ( n = 1120), after the beginning of the vaccination campaign. Comparison was made between individuals who were previously infected with the virus, those who received one dose of inoculation with the vaccine, and individuals that were neither infected or vaccinated. The study results indicate that those who were previously infected with the COVID-19 virus were less careful about mask wearing (18.8%) and social distancing (29.7%), as compared to the other examined groups (regarding mask wearing, 8.2% and 11.6% respectively, and with regard to social distancing 12.8% and 19.2%), and may require targeted risk communication campaigns to address this population. Furthermore, the study revealed that those that were non-Jewish (as compared to Jewish study counterparts) or that were older (19+) were more vigilant in their protective behavior (29.6% vs. 11.2% respectively for social distancing and 29.6% vs. 11.1% respectively for mask wearing). Despite a successful initial vaccination campaign in Israel, public health officials need to engage all members of the public to unremittingly observe compliance to directed health guidelines, to ensure that the results of previous governmental efforts in fighting the pandemic (such as lockdowns) will be effectively sustained, and the road to containment will be hastened.

Keywords: COVID-19; pandemic; protective behavior; practices; vaccinations; infectivity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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