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Portrait of Yana Litins'ka

Yana Litins'ka

Senior lecturer

Portrait of Yana Litins'ka

Barriers and motivators associated with COVID-19 vaccination-a vaccine acceptance scoring system based on a population survey in southern Sweden

Author

  • Adam Mitchell
  • Mariam Hassan
  • Fredrik Kahn
  • Yana Litins'ka
  • Matilda Almgren
  • Ulf Malmqvist
  • Per-Olof Östergren
  • Malin Inghammar
  • Jonas Björk
  • Louise Bennet

Summary, in English

Low vaccination coverage against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) is a public health concern. The aim of this study was to identify barriers and motivators associated with COVID-19 vaccination and develop a vaccine acceptance scoring system. From the overall population residing in Skåne county Sweden in 2022 (n = 1 384 531), 3600 randomly selected individuals (aged ≥18 years) received a survey. Questions were grouped into six domains reflecting trust in vaccines and institutions, benefit-risk balance, injunctive and descriptive norms and accessibility. Responses were scored as either assenting (1 p) or dissenting (0 p) in relation to its domain. A score between 1 and 5 p was constructed for each domain and a total vaccine acceptance score was analysed. Internal consistency overall and within domains was assessed with Cronbach's alpha. Associations with vaccination status and vaccine acceptance scores in relation to domains were modelled with logistic regression. 820 responses were received, 646 vaccinated (response rate 36%), and 174 unvaccinated (response rate 10%), with relatively high internal consistency overall (α = 0.76). Domains markedly associated with vaccination were injunctive norms OR 5.06 (95% CI 3.27, 7.83), descriptive norms OR 2.64 (1.63, 4.30) and trust in vaccines OR 1.66 (1.15, 2.40). Vaccine acceptance was measured with sufficient reliability in a Swedish population. Norms, in this context, general perceptions of acceptable/unacceptable behaviours and notion on actual performed behaviours, were together with trust in vaccines most strongly associated with vaccination. Future pandemic responses should consider these aspects in communication strategies and targeted interventions to increase and equalize vaccination uptake.

Department/s

  • Department of Laboratory Medicine
  • Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University
  • Lund University Press
  • Department Office of Clinical Sciences, Malmö
  • Family Medicine and Community Medicine
  • Department Office of Clinical Sciences, Lund
  • Department of Law
  • Social Medicine and Global Health

Publishing year

2025-04-17

Language

English

Publication/Series

European Journal of Public Health

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Topic

  • Public Health, Global Health and Social Medicine

Keywords

  • Medicinsk rätt

Status

Epub

Project

  • Improved preparedness for future pandemics and other health crises through large-scale disease surveillance

Research group

  • Family Medicine and Community Medicine
  • Social Medicine and Global Health

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1101-1262