Vaccine attitudes and acceptance among older adults in North Dakota: Understanding demographic characteristic variability

Heather R Fuller; Andrea Huseth-Zosel; Bryce Van Vleet; Melisa Hajdar; Paul J Carson

doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.09.005

Vaccine attitudes and acceptance among older adults in North Dakota: Understanding demographic characteristic variability

Vaccine. 2023 Oct 6;41(42):6350-6358. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.09.005. Epub 2023 Sep 9.

Authors

Heather R Fuller¹, Andrea Huseth-Zosel², Bryce Van Vleet³, Melisa Hajdar³, Paul J Carson²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Human Development and Family Science, North Dakota State University, P.O. Box 6050, Fargo, ND 58108-6050, United States. Electronic address: heather.fuller@ndsu.edu.
² Department of Public Health, North Dakota State University, P.O. Box 6050, Fargo, ND 58108-6050, United States.
³ Department of Human Development and Family Science, North Dakota State University, P.O. Box 6050, Fargo, ND 58108-6050, United States.

PMID: 37696718
DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.09.005

Abstract

Objectives: Older adults face increased risks from infectious diseases which are often preventable with vaccines. The current study examines demographic variation in vaccine hesitancy among older adults in North Dakota.

Methods: A mailed survey assessing age, gender, years of education, self-rated health, rurality, and political leaning as well as vaccine attitudes and vaccine acceptance was conducted with 739 older adults (65+), oversampled from rural counties.

Results: Vaccine hesitant attitudes were significantly higher among rural and politically-conservative older adults; whereas, vaccine acceptance was significantly higher among older, healthier, and politically-liberal older adults. Vaccine attitudes were significantly associated with vaccine acceptance and mediated the association between political leaning and vaccine acceptance.

Discussion: These findings highlight the demographic characteristics predictive of older adults' vaccine attitudes and acceptance. By better understanding the nuanced factors leading to hesitation to be vaccinated, practitioners can develop strategies to increase vaccination rates among this at-risk population.

Keywords: Political ideology; Rurality; Vaccine acceptance; Vaccine hesitancy.