ABSTRACT
Vaccination is an important part of the fight against COVID-19 virus. A predictor of the proportion of people who will actually take a vaccination is the willingness to vaccinate among the population. Literature shows that vaccination willingness among people with lower socioeconomic status is lower than among other groups. In this contribution we describe to what extent this is also the case in the Netherlands and show how risk perception, trust in the effects and safety of the vaccine, and health literacy may be related to this. Finally, we highlight a number of intervention strategies that can make a positive contribution to vaccination willingness among lower educated groups.
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 crisis impacts populations globally. This impact seems to differ for groups with low- and high-socioeconomic status (SES). We conducted a qualitative study in the Netherlands using a salutogenic perspective to examine experiences with stressors and coping resources during the pandemic among both SES groups to gain insight on how to promote the health and well-being of these groups. We conducted 10 focus group discussions and 20 interviews to explore the experiences, including resources and stressors, of respondents from low- (N = 37) and high-SES (N = 38) groups (25-55 years, Dutch speaking). We analyzed the findings at individual, community, and national levels. The results show that coping depends on government-imposed measures and the way individuals handle these measures; restriction to the home context with positive and negative consequences for work and leisure; psychological negative consequences and resourcefulness; and social effects related to unity (e.g. social cohesion or support) and division (including polarization). Respondents with lower SES expressed more problems with COVID-19 measures and experienced more social impact in their neighborhood than those with higher SES. Where low-SES groups especially mentioned the effects of staying at home on family life, high-SES groups mentioned effects on work life. At last, psychological consequences seem to differ somewhat across SES groups. Recommendations include consistent government-imposed measures and government communication, support for home schooling children, and strengthening the social fabric of neighborhoods.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Child , Humans , Pandemics , Ethnicity , Social Class , Adaptation, PsychologicalABSTRACT
Samenvatting Vaccinatie is een belangrijk onderdeel in de bestrijding van het COVID-19-virus. Een voorspeller van het aandeel mensen dat daadwerkelijk een vaccinatie zal nemen is de vaccinatiebereidheid onder de bevolking. Uit buitenlandse literatuur blijkt dat de vaccinatiebereidheid onder mensen met een lagere sociaaleconomische status lager ligt dan onder andere groepen. In deze bijdrage beschrijven we in hoeverre dit ook in Nederland het geval is en laten we zien hoe risicoperceptie, vertrouwen in de werking en veiligheid van het vaccin en gezondheidsvaardigheden hier mogelijk mee samenhangen. Tot slot belichten we een aantal interventiestrategieën die positief aan de vaccinatiebereidheid onder laagopgeleiden kunnen bijdragen.