Vaccine Literacy and Social–Cognitive Determinants of Vaccination

A special issue of Vaccines (ISSN 2076-393X). This special issue belongs to the section "Human Vaccines and Public Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 October 2024 | Viewed by 5384

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Epidemiology Unit, Meyer Children’s University Hospital, 50139 Florence, Italy
Interests: vaccine hesitancy; vaccine attitude; vaccination

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Vaccines are one of the most effective measures we can take for the prevention of infectious diseases. This is demonstrated by the important successes in the eradication, elimination and control of several infectious diseases. However, the availability of effective vaccinations is not synonymous with their use; public acceptance and adequate availability are necessary. This situation has been noted by the United Nations and recognized as one of the greatest threats to public health worldwide. The topic has gained enormous importance in the context of COVID-19 vaccination, which is a topic of discussion for many millions of people around the world.

Vaccine hesitancy and uptake are the result of social cognitive determinants, which involve a complex interaction of social and cognitive factors that influence people's behavior towards vaccination. Multiple factors can influence vaccination choice, such as the level of health and vaccine literacy, personal and cultural beliefs, distrust in healthcare authorities, influence of misinformation or conspiracy theories, fear of side effects or adverse reactions, risk perception and so on. These factors can interact with each other in complex ways and influence people's decision to accept or refuse vaccinations.

Understanding this problem and identifying the main predictors of vaccine reluctance or uptake could be useful for developing appropriate strategies to increase awareness and willingness to vaccinate. In this context, we are pleased to announce the Special Issue "Vaccine Literacy and Social–Cognitive Determinants of Vaccination". In this Special Issue, we aim to explore the various social–cognitive determinants of vaccine hesitancy and uptake, and consider their interplay in influencing people’s attitudes and behaviors towards vaccination. We also aim to investigate the relationships between social–cognitive determinants and socioeconomic factors in shaping vaccination choices, as well as the interventions that can improve vaccine literacy and address vaccine hesitancy.

Dr. Vieri Lastrucci
Dr. Chiara Lorini
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • vaccine literacy
  • vaccine hesitancy
  • attitudes towards vaccination
  • risk perception
  • vaccine uptake
  • public health
  • health literacy
  • social determinants
  • cognitive determinants
  • infectious diseases
  • vaccination strategies
  • immunization
  • health communication

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 1671 KiB  
Article
Parental Vaccine Literacy: Attitudes towards the COVID-19 Vaccines and Intention to Vaccinate Their Children Aged 5–11 Years against COVID-19 in Thailand
by Wantana Maneesriwongul, Suhong Deesamer and Nipaporn Butsing
Vaccines 2023, 11(12), 1804; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11121804 - 01 Dec 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1295
Abstract
Background: High rates of population immunity are needed to control the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to assess parents’ intention to have their children, aged 5–11 years, vaccinated against COVID-19 and its influencing factors in Thailand. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted [...] Read more.
Background: High rates of population immunity are needed to control the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to assess parents’ intention to have their children, aged 5–11 years, vaccinated against COVID-19 and its influencing factors in Thailand. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted before the nationwide COVID-19 vaccine rollout for children aged 5–11 years in Thailand. A sample of 542 parents with children in this age group was recruited online. Results: In total, 58.8% of parents intended to vaccinate their child against COVID-19. Logistic regression analysis revealed that influencing factors include child age, parents’ education, interactive/critical vaccine literacy, attitudes that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective for children, that the vaccine can reduce the severity of COVID-19 in children, that there were other ways to prevent children from contracting COVID-19 superior to vaccination, and that COVID-19 vaccination in children can be fatal. The main reasons for having an intention to vaccinate their children included to reduce the severity of symptoms if infected with COVID-19 and to protect them from contracting COVID-19 when they go to school. Conclusions: Our study provides evidence regarding factors influencing parents’ intention to vaccinate their children. The findings can be used to design future interventions to promote COVID-19 vaccine uptake in children. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vaccine Literacy and Social–Cognitive Determinants of Vaccination)
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13 pages, 921 KiB  
Article
Does Vaccine Confidence Mediate the Relationship between Vaccine Literacy and Influenza Vaccination? Exploring Determinants of Vaccination among Staff Members of Nursing Homes in Tuscany, Italy, during the COVID-19 Pandemic
by Francesca Collini, Guglielmo Bonaccorsi, Marco Del Riccio, Mario Bruschi, Silvia Forni, Giacomo Galletti, Fabrizio Gemmi, Francesca Ierardi and Chiara Lorini
Vaccines 2023, 11(8), 1375; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11081375 - 17 Aug 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1105
Abstract
Background: Low coverage of influenza vaccination in nursing home (NH) staff may be attributed to factors such as vaccine confidence (VC) and vaccine literacy (VL). Our study aimed to evaluate the role of VL and VC in predicting the intention to get the [...] Read more.
Background: Low coverage of influenza vaccination in nursing home (NH) staff may be attributed to factors such as vaccine confidence (VC) and vaccine literacy (VL). Our study aimed to evaluate the role of VL and VC in predicting the intention to get the influenza vaccine in a sample of employees of NHs in Tuscany, Italy. Methods: Data from staff members in Tuscany were collected using an online questionnaire that examined influenza vaccination history, intentions, demographic information, health status, and VL. Statistical analyses explored the relationships between VC, VL, and vaccination intentions. Results: The study included 1794 respondents, (86.3%) and assistants/aides (58.1%), with a median age of 46 years. The intention to get vaccinated was significantly higher among those with health risk conditions, and there was a positive association between VC and VL, specifically its interactive/critical component. The mediation analysis showed that VC completely mediated the relationship between VL and the intention to get vaccinated, with significant effects observed in different subgroups. Conclusions: VC is a key factor that mediates the effect of VL on vaccine intention. These results suggest that interventions aimed at improving VL alone may not be sufficient to increase vaccine uptake unless VC is also addressed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vaccine Literacy and Social–Cognitive Determinants of Vaccination)
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20 pages, 557 KiB  
Systematic Review
Barriers to and Facilitators for Accessing HPV Vaccination in Migrant and Refugee Populations: A Systematic Review
by Davide Graci, Nicolò Piazza, Salvatore Ardagna, Alessandra Casuccio, Anton Drobov, Federica Geraci, Angelo Immordino, Alessandra Pirrello, Vincenzo Restivo, Riccardo Rumbo, Rosalba Stefano, Roberta Virone, Elena Zarcone and Palmira Immordino
Vaccines 2024, 12(3), 256; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12030256 - 29 Feb 2024
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Abstract
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most prevalent sexually transmitted virus globally and a primary cause of cervical cancer, which ranks fourth among tumors in both incidence and mortality. Despite the availability of effective vaccines worldwide, HPV vaccination rates vary, especially among migrant and [...] Read more.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most prevalent sexually transmitted virus globally and a primary cause of cervical cancer, which ranks fourth among tumors in both incidence and mortality. Despite the availability of effective vaccines worldwide, HPV vaccination rates vary, especially among migrant and refugee populations. Indeed, migrant status may act as a determinant against accessing vaccinations, among many other factors. The objective of this paper is to evaluate barriers to and facilitators for accessing HPV vaccination in migrant and refugee populations. A systematic review of the existing peer-reviewed academic literature was conducted according to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines in which we examined thirty-four studies to evaluate HPV vaccination rates in these populations and identify factors acting as barriers or facilitators. Key determinants include socio-economic status and health literacy. Communication barriers, including language and cultural factors, also impact access to information and trust in the health workforce. Understanding and considering these factors is crucial for developing proper and inclusive vaccination strategies to ensure that no population is overlooked. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vaccine Literacy and Social–Cognitive Determinants of Vaccination)
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17 pages, 1955 KiB  
Systematic Review
Acceptance of the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine among General Men and Men with a Same-Sex Orientation and Its Influencing Factors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Fang Shen, Yuxia Du, Kexin Cao, Can Chen, Mengya Yang, Rui Yan and Shigui Yang
Vaccines 2024, 12(1), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12010016 - 22 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1281
Abstract
The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine reduces the prevalence of genital warts and the cancers they are associated with in males. However, the vaccination of males has always been neglected. Here, we performed a meta-analysis to comprehend the acceptability of the HPV vaccine in [...] Read more.
The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine reduces the prevalence of genital warts and the cancers they are associated with in males. However, the vaccination of males has always been neglected. Here, we performed a meta-analysis to comprehend the acceptability of the HPV vaccine in men and the factors impacting vaccination intentions. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Ovid, CNKI, and Wan Fang up to 5 July 2023 for studies that reported HPV vaccine acceptance among men. A random effects model was used to obtain the pooled acceptance rate, and subgroup analysis was performed. Then, the influencing factors of HPV vaccination in males were analyzed. A total of 57 studies with 32,962 samples were included in the analysis. The overall acceptance rate of the HPV vaccine in general men was 47.04% (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 39.23–54.93%), and 62.23% (95% CI: 52.93–71.10%) among those whose sexual orientation contained men. HPV vaccine acceptance rates differed significantly between the two populations (p = 0.01). The population with a medical background (46.23%, 95% CI: 40.28–52.24%) was more willing to be vaccinated. In comparison to the employed population (66.93%, 95% CI: 48.79–82.81%) and the unemployed (68.44%, 95% CI: 52.82–82.23%), vaccination acceptance rates were lower among students (47.35%, 95% CI: 37.00–57.81%) (p = 0.04). The most significant barriers to vaccination were perceived low risk of infection for themselves (45.91%, 95% CI: 31.73–60.43%), followed by vaccine cost (43.46%, 95% CI: 31.20–56.13%). Moreover, the recommendations from medical professionals (60.90%, 95%CI: 44.23–76.37%) and sexual partners (60.09%, 95%CI: 27.11–88.67%) were significant factors in promoting vaccination. Overall, acceptance of the HPV vaccine among general men was at a lower level, despite being slightly higher among men with a same-sex orientation. Popularizing knowledge about diseases and vaccines, encouraging medical professionals to recommend vaccines to men, or reducing the cost of vaccines may promote HPV vaccination. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vaccine Literacy and Social–Cognitive Determinants of Vaccination)
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