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. 2020 Oct 19:1-3.
doi: 10.1017/S0033291720004067. Online ahead of print.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is associated with beliefs on the origin of the novel coronavirus in the UK and Turkey

Gul Deniz Salali  1 , Mete Sefa Uysal  2
Affiliations

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is associated with beliefs on the origin of the novel coronavirus in the UK and Turkey

Gul Deniz Salali et al. Psychol Med. .

Abstract

Background: Much research effort is focused on developing an effective vaccine for combatting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Vaccine development itself, however, will not be enough given that a sufficient amount of people will need to be vaccinated for widespread immunity. Vaccine hesitancy is on the rise, varies across countries, and is associated with conspiratorial worldview. Given the rise in COVID-19-related conspiracy theories, we aimed to examine the levels of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and its association with beliefs on the origin of the novel coronavirus in a cross-cultural study.

Methods: We conducted an online survey in the UK (N = 1088) and Turkey (N = 3936), and gathered information on participants' willingness to vaccinate for a potential COVID-19 vaccine, beliefs on the origin of the novel coronavirus, and several behavioural and demographic predictors (such as anxiety, risk perception, government satisfaction levels) that influence vaccination and origin beliefs.

Results: In all, 31% of the participants in Turkey and 14% in the UK were unsure about getting themselves vaccinated for a COVID-19 vaccine. In both countries, 3% of the participants rejected to be vaccinated. Also, 54% of the participants in Turkey and 63% in the UK believed in the natural origin of the novel coronavirus. Believing in the natural origin significantly increased the odds of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance.

Conclusions: Our results point at a concerning level of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, especially in Turkey, and suggest that wider communication of the scientific consensus on the origin of the novel coronavirus with the public may help future campaigns targeting COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.

Keywords: COVID-19; Cognitive bias; conspiracy beliefs; cultural evolution; health communication; public health; vaccine hesitancy.

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Conflict of interest statement

None.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Percentage of participants who responded ‘yes’ to the question of whether they would vaccinate themselves and their children for COVID-19 in Turkey (n = 3936) and the UK (n = 1088) based on their belief on the origin of the coronavirus (artificial, not sure, natural).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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