Factors associated with willingness to receive coronavirus disease vaccination during the pandemic: A nationwide survey in Taiwan

Shih-Han Weng; Yung-Feng Yen; Feng-Shiang Cheng; Yi-Chang Chou; Hsiao-Yun Hu

doi:10.1016/j.jfma.2024.05.006

Factors associated with willingness to receive coronavirus disease vaccination during the pandemic: A nationwide survey in Taiwan

J Formos Med Assoc. 2024 May 12:S0929-6646(24)00242-0. doi: 10.1016/j.jfma.2024.05.006. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Shih-Han Weng¹, Yung-Feng Yen², Feng-Shiang Cheng³, Yi-Chang Chou⁴, Hsiao-Yun Hu⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Education and Research, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; University of Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: A4391@tpech.gov.tw.
² Department of Education and Research, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; University of Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan; Section of Infectious Diseases, Taipei City Hospital, Yangming Branch, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Health Care Management, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Public Health, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: DAM37@tpech.gov.tw.
³ Department of Education and Research, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; University of Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: A3989@tpech.gov.tw.
⁴ Department of Education and Research, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; University of Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: T0036@tpech.gov.tw.
⁵ Department of Education and Research, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; University of Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Public Health, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: A3547@tpech.gov.tw.

PMID: 38740535
DOI: 10.1016/j.jfma.2024.05.006

Abstract

Background/purpose: Vaccination is the most important preventive measure to protect people from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Governments worldwide have prioritized their vaccination policy against COVID-19. However, there is a lack of relevant research on Taiwanese attitudes and considerations toward COVID-19 vaccination. This study aimed to investigate the cognition, preventive behaviors, and attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines that influence people's willingness to get vaccinated in Taiwan.

Methods: From October 1 to 31, 2021, a computer-assisted telephone interview system was used to randomly select Taiwanese people to investigate their COVID-19 preventive behaviors, knowledge, and willingness to be vaccinated.

Results: We included 2000 participants of whom 96.45% showed vaccination willingness. The overall mean age and knowledge scores were 48.6 years and 5.78, respectively. All of the participants chose to wear masks, and 80% chose to be vaccinated to prevent COVID-19. Compared with the non-willing vaccination participants, those with younger ages, higher incomes, and higher knowledge scores regarding masks and vaccination were more likely to be vaccinated. Furthermore, apprehensions about vaccine side effects and negative news about COVID-19 vaccines were the major reasons for vaccination hesitancy.

Conclusion: To improve people's willingness to get vaccinated, the government should strive to deliver correct knowledge and refute inappropriate negative information about COVID-19 vaccination. Moreover, recommendation by physicians was an important factor for older individuals to decide on receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, and policies could be implemented from this aspect.

Keywords: COVID-19; National survey; Pandemic; Vaccination; Willingness.