Factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine uptake among foreign migrants in China

Tosin Yinka Akintunde; Ji-Kang Chen; Elhakim Ibrahim; Stanley Oloji Isangha; Muhideen Sayibu; Taha Hussein Musa

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17567

Factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine uptake among foreign migrants in China

Heliyon. 2023 Jun 26;9(7):e17567. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17567. eCollection 2023 Jul.

Authors

Tosin Yinka Akintunde^{1

2}, Ji-Kang Chen², Elhakim Ibrahim³, Stanley Oloji Isangha⁴, Muhideen Sayibu⁵, Taha Hussein Musa⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Sociology, School of Public Administration, Hohai University, China.
² Department of Social Work, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
³ Department of Demography, College for Health, Community and Policy, The University of Texas, San Antonio, TX, United States.
⁴ Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, College of Liberal Art and Social Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
⁵ Department of Sci-Tech Communication and Policy, University of Science and Technology of China, Anhui, Hefei, China.
⁶ Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.

Abstract

Background/purpose: The COVID-19 outbreak created unique policy challenges for vaccinating special groups like migrants. As part of sustainable development goals, the equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine can contribute to ensuring health for all. This study examined COVID-19 vaccine uptake among foreign migrants in China based on sociodemographics, cultural beliefs, past vaccine behaviors, and psychosocial factors.

Design: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted among foreign migrants in mainland China via social media platforms from 21 November through 20 December 2021. Bivariate (unadjusted odd-ratio) and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to establish the correlates of COVID-19 vaccine uptake.

Result: Surveyed foreign migrants that are culture neutral (AOR: 2.5, CI: 95%, 1.02-5.90, p = 0.044), willing to pay for vaccination (AOR: 2.27, CI: 95%, 1.18-3.98, p = 0.012), believe in vaccine efficacy (AOR: 3.00, CI: 95%, 1.75-5.16, p < 0.000), have poor psychological health (AOR: 1.96, CI: 95%, 1.14-3.38, p = 0 0.014), and have higher perceived seriousness of COVID-19 (AOR: 2.12, CI: 95%, 1.26-3.57, p = 0.005) are more likely to receive COVID-19 vaccine. Those migrants with a history of declining vaccination (AOR: 0.34, CI: 95%, 0.18-0.65, p = 0.000) and middle-income earners $1701-3500 (AOR: 0.43, CI: 95%, 0.23-0.82, p = 0.010) are less likely to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Conclusion: This study brings a unique perspective to understanding vaccine behavior among international migrants in China. There is an urgent call from the World Health Organization and countries for complete vaccination and efforts to improve vaccine coverage. However, fewer studies have been conducted globally on the vaccination of migrant populations. The current study provides empirical information to increase the knowledge of the correlates of vaccine behavior among immigrants in countries around the globe. Future studies should conduct cross-country comparisons to understand the factors associated with increasing vaccination rates among immigrant populations to formulate a strong policy to increase vaccine coverage among immigrant populations across countries.

Keywords: COVID-19; China; Foreigners; Migrants; Psychosocial; Vaccine uptake.