Influences and Willingness to Receive Future COVID-19 Vaccination by Demographic Data and Proposed Interventions

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a rapidly growing problem in the global health community and has affected millions of people worldwide. The resulting COVID-19 disease poses a significant threat as it can lead to both short and long- term health consequences in all demographics. In order to contain this infectious disease and reduce the amount of harm it inflicts; vaccination has been the best recommended course of action in association with mask wearing and appropriately enforced social distancing measures. The increased speed of development for the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines relative to other vaccines and politicization of being immunized against COVID-19 in the United States of America serve as two points of potential divergency for demographics’ willingness to be immunized. The connections between demographic identifiers and immunization attitudes were evaluated using an online survey distributed to adults living in the United States. Representative data on demographics including age, education level, and political affiliation was collected as was the associated willingness to be immunized against COVID-19 and the annual influenza vaccine. The survey collected data on the factors that influence the participants’ attitudes towards immunization for both influenza and COVID-19. Upon analysis of the data, the relationship between political affiliation and willingness to be immunized for COVID-19 reported a chi-squared statistic of 10.8282 which resulted in a p-value of 0.001 < 0.05. The relationship between political affiliation and willingness to be immunized against COVID-19 proved to be statistically significant in the test population. Upon further analysis of the relationship, self-identified Republicans are less likely to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Also concluded from the study in order of descending importance, people of all demographics decide to be immunized for both COVID-19 and influenza by reviewing primary scientific literature, considering physicians’ opinions, and reflecting on personal health status. However, in the groups with the lowest willingness to be immunized against COVID-19, the timeline of development was cited as the only deviating deciding factor from those listed above. Using this data, an intervention plan was proposed to increase vaccination participation in low-participating demographics in concurrence with the idea that increased vaccination rates offer a higher level of protection against the illness.