Dataset Information

Unfolding the Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance in China.

ABSTRACT:

Background

China is at the forefront of global efforts to develop COVID-19 vaccines and has five fast-tracked candidates at the final-stage, large-scale human clinical trials testing phase. Vaccine-promoting policymaking for public engagement is a prerequisite for social mobilization. However, making an informed and judicious choice is a dilemma for the Chinese government in the vaccine promotion context.

Objective

In this study, public opinions in China were analyzed via dialogues on Chinese social media, based on which Chinese netizens' views on COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination were investigated. We also aimed to develop strategies for promoting vaccination programs in China based on an in-depth understanding of the challenges in risk communication and social mobilization.

Methods

We proposed a novel behavioral dynamics model, SRS/I (susceptible-reading-susceptible/immune), to analyze opinion transmission paradigms on Chinese social media. Coupled with a meta-analysis and natural language processing techniques, the emotion polarity of individual opinions was examined in their given context.

Results

We collected more than 1.75 million Weibo messages about COVID-19 vaccines from January to October 2020. According to the public opinion reproduction ratio (R₀), the dynamic propagation of those messages can be classified into three periods: the ferment period (R₀₁=1.1360), the revolution period (R₀₂=2.8278), and the transmission period (R₀₃=3.0729). Topics on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in China include price and side effects. From September to October, Weibo users claimed that the vaccine was overpriced, making up 18.3% (n=899) of messages; 38.1% (n=81,909) of relevant topics on Weibo received likes. On the contrary, the number of messages that considered the vaccine to be reasonably priced was twice as high but received fewer likes, accounting for 25.0% (n=53,693). In addition, we obtained 441 (47.7%) positive and 295 (31.9%) negative Weibo messages about side effects. Interestingly, inactivated vaccines instigated more heated discussions than any other vaccine type. The discussions, forwards, comments, and likes associated with topics related to inactivated vaccines accounted for 53% (n=588), 42% (n=3072), 56% (n=3671), and 49% (n=17,940), respectively, of the total activity associated with the five types of vaccines in China.

Conclusions

Most Chinese netizens believe that the vaccine is less expensive than previously thought, while some claim they cannot afford it for their entire family. The findings demonstrate that Chinese individuals are inclined to be positive about side effects over time and are proud of China's involvement with vaccine development. Nevertheless, they have a collective misunderstanding about inactivated vaccines, insisting that inactivated vaccines are safer than other vaccines. Reflecting on netizens' collective responses, the unfolding determinants of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance provide illuminating benchmarks for vaccine-promoting policies.

SUBMITTER: Yin F

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7813210 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Unfolding the Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance in China.

Yin Fulian F Wu Zhaoliang Z Xia Xinyu X Ji Meiqi M Wang Yanyan Y Hu Zhiwen Z

Journal of medical Internet research 20210115 1

<h4>Background</h4>China is at the forefront of global efforts to develop COVID-19 vaccines and has five fast-tracked candidates at the final-stage, large-scale human clinical trials testing phase. Vaccine-promoting policymaking for public engagement is a prerequisite for social mobilization. However, making an informed and judicious choice is a dilemma for the Chinese government in the vaccine promotion context.<h4>Objective</h4>In this study, public opinions in China were analyzed via dialogue ...[more]

PMID: 33400682

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Project description:Background: This study determined the knowledge and attitudes regarding COVID-19 and assessed the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine among the Chinese population. Methods: An online and offline cross-sectional study was conducted from 1 to 18 June 2021 among the Chinese population. Demographic characteristics, attitudes, knowledge, values, impact, and autonomy regarding the COVID-19 vaccine were collected using questionnaire. The variables in our study were analyzed by Mann-Whitney test and chi-square test. Results: A total of 93.8% participants were willing to be vaccinated, 2.7% refused, and 3.5% hesitated. In regards to knowledge about the COVID-19 vaccine, 94.3% citizens surveyed knew about the spread of droplets and 65% had knowledge about surfaces touched by an infected person. In addition, 93.8% of participants had knowledge of the common symptoms related to COVID-19, such as fever and cough (93.8%), shortness of breath/anorexia/fatigue/nausea/vomiting/diarrhea (80.2%), and panic and chest tightness (69.4%). Most participants had a strong self-prevention awareness, such as washing hands regularly (92.1%) and wearing a facemask (94.1%). Besides, over ninety percent of respondents would report exposure to SARS-CoV-2 (96.6%) and exposure to symptoms possibility related to COVID-19 (92.9%). If necessary, most respondents would agree to isolate at home (93.5%) or an isolation in hospital (96.3%). Knowledge of COVID-19, including transmission, symptoms, protective measures, and vaccines itself, is associated with vaccination attitude. Values, perceived impacts, knowledge, and autonomy, assessed by the scale of DrVac-COVID19S, have also been revealed as important determinants to vaccine acceptance. Conclusions: Almost 93% of Chinese people surveyed in this study showed a willing attitude toward COVID-19 vaccination. Based on the above results, government and social workers can take measures from these perspectives to improve the vaccination attitude, so as to increase vaccine immunization rates.

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Project description:Faced with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the development of COVID-19 vaccines has been progressing at an unprecedented rate. This study aimed to evaluate the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination in China and give suggestions for vaccination strategies and immunization programs accordingly. In March 2020, an anonymous cross-sectional survey was conducted online among Chinese adults. The questionnaire collected socio-demographic characteristics, risk perception, the impact of COVID-19, attitudes, acceptance and attribute preferences of vaccines against COVID-19 during the pandemic. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify the influencing factors of vaccination acceptance. Of the 2058 participants surveyed, 1879 (91.3%) stated that they would accept COVID-19 vaccination after the vaccine becomes available, among whom 980 (52.2%) wanted to get vaccinated as soon as possible, while others (47.8%) would delay the vaccination until the vaccine's safety was confirmed. Participants preferred a routine immunization schedule (49.4%) to emergency vaccination (9.0%) or either of them (41.6%). Logistic regression showed that being male, being married, perceiving a high risk of infection, being vaccinated against influenza in the past season, believing in the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccination or valuing doctor's recommendations could increase the probability of accepting COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible, while having confirmed or suspected cases in local areas, valuing vaccination convenience or vaccine price in decision-making could hinder participants from immediate vaccination. During the pandemic period, a strong demand for and high acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination has been shown among the Chinese population, while concerns about vaccine safety may hinder the promotion of vaccine uptake. To expand vaccination coverage, immunization programs should be designed to remove barriers in terms of vaccine price and vaccination convenience, and health education and communication from authoritative sources are important ways to alleviate public concerns about vaccine safety.

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Dataset Information

Unfolding the Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance in China.

Background

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Unfolding the Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance in China.

Similar Datasets

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