Determinants of Vaccine Acceptance against COVID-19 in China: Perspectives on Knowledge and DrVac-COVID19S Scale

Chen Dong, Qian Liang, Tanao Ji, Jun Gu, Jian Feng, Min Shuai, Xiaoming Zhang, Rui Zhao and Zhifeng Gu
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Chen Dong: Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
Qian Liang: Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
Tanao Ji: Department of Respiratory, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
Jun Gu: Department of Respiratory, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
Jian Feng: Department of Respiratory, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
Min Shuai: Department of Nursing, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
Xiaoming Zhang: Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200025, China
Rui Zhao: Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
Zhifeng Gu: Department of Rheumatology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 21, 1-13

Abstract: Background: This study determined the knowledge and attitudes regarding COVID-19 and assessed the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine among the Chinese population. Methods: An online and offline cross-sectional study was conducted from 1 to 18 June 2021 among the Chinese population. Demographic characteristics, attitudes, knowledge, values, impact, and autonomy regarding the COVID-19 vaccine were collected using questionnaire. The variables in our study were analyzed by Mann-Whitney test and chi-square test. Results: A total of 93.8% participants were willing to be vaccinated, 2.7% refused, and 3.5% hesitated. In regards to knowledge about the COVID-19 vaccine, 94.3% citizens surveyed knew about the spread of droplets and 65% had knowledge about surfaces touched by an infected person. In addition, 93.8% of participants had knowledge of the common symptoms related to COVID-19, such as fever and cough (93.8%), shortness of breath/anorexia/fatigue/nausea/vomiting/diarrhea (80.2%), and panic and chest tightness (69.4%). Most participants had a strong self-prevention awareness, such as washing hands regularly (92.1%) and wearing a facemask (94.1%). Besides, over ninety percent of respondents would report exposure to SARS-CoV-2 (96.6%) and exposure to symptoms possibility related to COVID-19 (92.9%). If necessary, most respondents would agree to isolate at home (93.5%) or an isolation in hospital (96.3%). Knowledge of COVID-19, including transmission, symptoms, protective measures, and vaccines itself, is associated with vaccination attitude. Values, perceived impacts, knowledge, and autonomy, assessed by the scale of DrVac-COVID19S, have also been revealed as important determinants to vaccine acceptance. Conclusions: Almost 93% of Chinese people surveyed in this study showed a willing attitude toward COVID-19 vaccination. Based on the above results, government and social workers can take measures from these perspectives to improve the vaccination attitude, so as to increase vaccine immunization rates.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; vaccine; acceptance; knowledge; attitude (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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