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. 2022 Mar 1;51(3):afac013.
doi: 10.1093/ageing/afac013.

Perceptions, knowledge and attitudes about COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in older Portuguese adults

Tânia Magalhães Silva  1 , Marta Estrela  1 , Vítor Roque  2 , Eva Rebelo Gomes  3 , Adolfo Figueiras  4   5 , Fátima Roque  2   6 , Maria Teresa Herdeiro  1
Affiliations

Perceptions, knowledge and attitudes about COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in older Portuguese adults

Tânia Magalhães Silva et al. Age Ageing. .

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) has become a public-health emergency of international concern. Most efforts to contain the spread and transmission of the virus rely on campaigns and interventions targeted to reduce Vaccine Hesitancy and Refusal (VHR).

Objective: this study aims to assess the major factors associated with VHR in the older population in Portugal.

Methods: a nation-wide cross-sectional study was conducted in the older Portuguese population (≥65 years old) through computer-assisted telephone interviewing. Logistic regression was used to determine the adjusted odds ratio (OR) of the independent variables (perceptions, knowledge and attitudes) and of the outcome (VHR).

Results: the response rate was 60.1% (602/1,001). Perceptions, knowledge and attitudes were strongly associated with VHR probability. A 1-point Likert scale increase in concerns about the vaccines' efficacy and safety increased the risk of VHR by 1.96 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.40-6.28) and 3.13 (95%CI: 2.08-8.22), respectively. A reduction of VHR probability for 'reliability of the information released by social media' (OR = 0.34, 95%CI: 0.16-0.70) and for 'trust in national and international competent authorities' (OR = 0.34, 95%CI: 0.17-0.69) is also observed per 1-point increase.

Conclusions: as VHR seems to be strongly associated with perceptions, knowledge and attitudes, the design and promotion of vaccination campaigns/educational interventions specifically targeted at changing these potentially modifiable determinants may help to tackle COVID-19 VHR and achieve a wider vaccine coverage.

Keywords: COVID-19; Portugal; hesitancy; older adults; older people; vaccination.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram of the cross-sectional study.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Definition of the composed variable (VHR) by taking into consideration three different questionnaire items related to the vaccination refusal/acceptance and/or with no intention/intention to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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