Would senior citizens get vaccinated against RSV? Exploratory analysis using a novel survey instrument

Abstract

Objective

To assess the attitude of senior citizens towards the newly approved respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines using a novel survey instrument specifically tailored for this purpose.

Material and methods

Based on a literature review on vaccination attitude towards respiratory viruses (SARS-CoV-2 and influenza), 15 items were tested for content, face, and construct validity. Data collection nvolved face-to-face interviews among individuals aged 50 years or older in Jordan during May–June 2024. Construct validity was assessed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) based on principal component analysis.

Results

A total of 231 respondents formed the final sample. The EFA showed that 5 constructs explained 71.9% of the variance in attitude to RSV vaccination. These constructs were labeled Fear, Information, Accessibility, Benefit, and Conspiracy. The acceptance of a safe and effective RSV vaccine if provided free-of-charge was observed among 55.4% of the participants (n = 128), while 16.0% were hesitant (n = 37), and 28.6% were resistant (n = 66). Applying the 5 RSV vaccine attitude constructs, demographic data, and vaccination history into the multivariate analysis, a higher RSV vaccine acceptance was found among elderly individuals with lower monthly incomes, a history of higher vaccine uptake, agreement with the Benefit construct, and disagreement with the Fear construct.

Conclusions

This study developed an initial survey instrument to assess the attitudes of senior citizens towards the newly approved RSV vaccines. Further testing across diverse settings is necessary to evaluate the barriers and motivators influencing attitude to RSV vaccination. This effort is crucial to reduce the burden of RSV disease among the elderly.