Why do people consent to receiving SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations? A representative survey in Germany

Harald Walach; Michael Ofner; Viviane Ruof; Markus Herbig; Rainer Johannes Klement

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-060555

Why do people consent to receiving SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations? A representative survey in Germany

BMJ Open. 2022 Aug 18;12(8):e060555. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-060555.

Authors

Harald Walach^{1

2}, Michael Ofner^{3

4}, Viviane Ruof², Markus Herbig⁵, Rainer Johannes Klement⁶

Affiliations

¹ Kazimieras Simonavicius University, Next Society Institute, Vilnius, Lithuania hw@chs-institute.org.
² CHS Institute, Berlin, Germany.
³ Department Immunology and Pathophysiology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
⁴ Medyco International, Dubai, UAE.
⁵ Debaro GmbH, Munich, Germany.
⁶ Department of Radiation Oncology, Leopoldina Hospital Schweinfurt, Schweinfurt, Germany.

Abstract

Objective: To answer the question: Why do people consent to being vaccinated with novel vaccines against SARS-CoV-2?

Design: Representative survey.

Setting: Online panel.

Participants: 1032 respondents of the general German population.

Method: A representative survey among German citizens in November/December 2021 that resulted in 1032 complete responses on vaccination status, sociodemographic parameters and opinions about the COVID-19 situation.

Results: Almost 83% of the respondents were vaccinated. The major motivation was fear of medical consequences of an infection and the wish to lead a normal life again. The major motivation to be not vaccinated was the fear of side effects and scepticism about long-term effectiveness and safety. Sixteen per cent of vaccinated respondents reported some serious side effect, while more than 30% reported health improvements, mostly due to the relief of psychological stress and social reintegration. We also validated a 'Corona Orthodoxy Score-COS' consisting of seven items reflecting opinions on COVID-19. The scale is reliable (alpha=0.76) and unidimensional. The COS was a highly significant predictor of vaccination status and readiness to be vaccinated in a multivariable logistic regression model. Those who were vaccinated were more likely to live in smaller households (OR=0.82, p=0.024), had a higher income (OR=1.27, p<0.001), a higher COS score (OR 1.4, p<0.0001) and used less alternative media (OR=0.44, p=0.0024) and scientific publications (OR=0.42, p=0.011) as information sources.

Conclusions: The major motives for being vaccinated are fear of medical symptoms and the wish to lead a normal life. Those not wanting to be vaccinated cite a lack of knowledge regarding long-term safety and side effects as reasons. This can likely only be overcome by careful and active long-term efficacy and safety monitoring.

Keywords: COVID-19; health policy; immunology; public health.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

COVID-19 Vaccines* / therapeutic use
COVID-19* / prevention & control
Germany / epidemiology
Humans
Informed Consent
SARS-CoV-2
Surveys and Questionnaires
Vaccination

Substances

COVID-19 Vaccines