ABSTRACT
To mitigate the unprecedented health, social, and economic damage of COVID-19, the Philippines implemented a nation-wide vaccine program to mitigate the effects of the global pandemic. In a previous study, we interrogated COVID-19 vaccine intent in the country by deploying a nationwide open-access online survey, two months before the initial rollout of the national vaccination program that began in March of 2021. In this follow-up study, we explored the influence of the ongoing vaccine rollout on vaccine intent by deploying a similar survey six months after the initial rollout of vaccines had begun throughout the archipelago. Our data suggests that the presence of vaccines and vaccinated individuals in a Filipino community predicts vaccination intent. When directly asked if they were more willing to receive a vaccination than six months prior, 92.26% agreed to some extent that they were indeed more willing. Finally, despite the changes in the numbers of respondents who were more open to the COVID-19 vaccines, there were no significant changes in the predictive power of our Health Belief Model (HBM) constructs. For the most part, the HBM factors that predicted vaccination intent in our earlier study also predicted vaccination intent in this current study.
Subject(s)
COVID-19ABSTRACT
To mitigate the unprecedented health, social, and economic damage of COVID-19, the Philippines is undertaking a nationwide vaccination program to mitigate the effects of the global pandemic. In this study, we interrogated COVID-19 vaccine intent in the country by deploying a nationwide open-access online survey, two months before the rollout of the national vaccination program. The Health Belief Model (HBM) posits that people are likely to adopt disease prevention behaviors and to accept medical interventions like vaccines if there is sufficient motivation and cues to action. A majority of our 7,193 respondents (62.5%) indicated that they were willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Moreover, multivariable analysis revealed that HBM constructs were associated with vaccination intention in the Philippines. Perceptions of high susceptibility, high severity, and significant benefits were all good predictors for vaccination intent. We also found that external cues to action were important. Large majorities of our respondents would only receive the COVID-19 vaccines after many others had received it (72.8%) or after politicians had received it (68.2%). Finally, our study revealed that most (21%) were willing to pay an amount of PHP 1,000 (USD20) for the COVID-19 vaccines with an average willing-to-pay amount of PHP1,892 (USD38).
ABSTRACT
To mitigate the unprecedented health, social, and economic damage of COVID-19, the Philippines is undertaking a nationwide vaccination program to mitigate the effects of the global pandemic. In this study, we interrogated COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the country by deploying a nationwide open-access online survey, two months before the rollout of the national vaccination program. The Health Belief Model (HBM) posits that people are likely to adopt disease prevention behaviors and to accept medical interventions like vaccines if there is sufficient motivation and cues to action. A majority of our 7,193 respondents (62.5%) indicated that they were willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Moreover, multivariable analysis revealed that HBM constructs were associated with vaccination intention in the Philippines. Perceptions of high susceptibility, high severity, and significant benefits were all good predictors for vaccination intent. We also found that external cues to action were important. Large majorities of our respondents would only receive the COVID-19 vaccines after many others had received it (72.8%) or after politicians had received it (68.2%). Finally, our study revealed that most (21%) were willing to pay an amount of PHP1,000 [USD20] for the COVID-19 vaccines with an average willing-to-pay amount of PHP1,892 [USD38].
Subject(s)
COVID-19ABSTRACT
Unless the public trusts that public health measures are grounded in the best available science, even if that science is incomplete and changing, individuals cannot be expected to follow public health recommendations, such as to shelter in place. Rapid cultural change and widening economic inequality have fueled increases in political polarization that cement loyalty to party over a shared search for truth.4 The stunning failure ofpublic officials and experts to predict and prevent the September 11 attacks and the 2008 fiscal crisis, and well-publicized miscues such as the rollout ofhealthcare.gov, have eroded faith in national leaders. "6 How can we expect the public to accept that science strives for truth when people read about retractions, faked studies, and even an entire blood testing company built on a lie? TRUST IN SCIENCE The good news is that trust in science remains high, at least relative to other institutions.7 Moreover, if we search for silver linings, COVID-19 could burst the posttruth bubble.