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Vaccine Hesitancy towards COVID-19 Vaccination: Investigating the Role of Information Sources through a Mediation Analysis.
Reno, Chiara; Maietti, Elisa; Di Valerio, Zeno; Montalti, Marco; Fantini, Maria Pia; Gori, Davide.
  • Reno C; Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
  • Maietti E; Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
  • Di Valerio Z; Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
  • Montalti M; Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
  • Fantini MP; Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
  • Gori D; Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
Infect Dis Rep ; 13(3): 712-723, 2021 Aug 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1354946
ABSTRACT
Mass vaccination campaigns have been implemented worldwide to counteract the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic, however their effectiveness could be challenged by vaccine hesitancy. The tremendous rise in the use of social media have made them acquire a leading role as an information source, thus representing a crucial factor at play that could contribute to increase or mitigate vaccine hesitancy, as information sources play a pivotal role in shaping public opinion and perceptions. The aims of the study were to investigate if information sources could affect the attitude towards COVID-19 vaccination and if they could act as a mediator in the relationship between individual characteristics and vaccine hesitancy. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted by a professional panellist on a representative sample of 1011 citizens from the Emilia-Romagna region in Italy in January 2021. A mediation analysis using structural equation modelling was performed. Our results show how social media directly or indirectly increases vaccine hesitancy towards COVID-19 vaccination, while the opposite effect was observed for institutional websites. Given the global widespread use of social media, their use should be enhanced to disseminate scientifically sound information to a greater audience to counteract vaccine hesitancy, while at the same time continuing to promote and update institutional websites that have proven to be effective in reducing vaccine hesitancy.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Type of study: Observational study / Randomized controlled trials Topics: Vaccines Language: English Journal: Infect Dis Rep Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Idr13030066

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Type of study: Observational study / Randomized controlled trials Topics: Vaccines Language: English Journal: Infect Dis Rep Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Idr13030066