TY - JOUR
T1 - COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy scale and its association with actual COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Israel
AU - Grossman-Giron, Ariella
AU - Tzur Bitan, Dana
AU - Shemesh, Sharon
AU - Mayer, Yael
AU - Shiffman, Noga
AU - Bloch, Yuval
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2023/2/24
Y1 - 2023/2/24
N2 - Background: The public's willingness to get vaccinated continues to be a source of concern. In this study we assessed the psychometric properties of the COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy scale (C19-VHS) as well as the association between the scale and self-reported past COVID-19 vaccination, approximately two weeks after the national vaccine distribution plan was launched in Israel. Methods: Participants were recruited via an online survey distributed through social media platforms and mailing lists. A total of 650 individuals completed the C19-VHS, the general vaccine hesitancy scale, and the fear of COVID-19 scale, and reported on demographic and pandemic-related characteristics. Principal component and Cronbach's alpha analyses were performed to assess the factor structure and reliability of the scale. Logistic regressions were employed to assess the scale's convergent and discriminative validity. Results: Two factors pertaining to “lack of confidence” (Factor 1) and “risk perception” (Factor 2) emerged. Cronbach's alpha indicated good reliability of Factor 1 (0.93), with lower reliability of Factor 2 (0.72). Younger age was associated with higher risk perception, with women showing less confidence and perceiving greater risks. Lower hesitancy significantly predicted actual COVID-19 vaccine uptake after adjusting for demographic and pandemic-related factors (OR = 1.16, 95%CI 1.11–1.21, p <.001). Older age, being a woman, and receiving the flu vaccine in the past year were also predictive of COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Discussion: The C19-VHS measure shows robust psychometric properties and is associated with actual vaccine uptake. Future studies assessing COVID-19 vaccination attitudes may utilize this scale to assess current COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in different contexts and cultures.
AB - Background: The public's willingness to get vaccinated continues to be a source of concern. In this study we assessed the psychometric properties of the COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy scale (C19-VHS) as well as the association between the scale and self-reported past COVID-19 vaccination, approximately two weeks after the national vaccine distribution plan was launched in Israel. Methods: Participants were recruited via an online survey distributed through social media platforms and mailing lists. A total of 650 individuals completed the C19-VHS, the general vaccine hesitancy scale, and the fear of COVID-19 scale, and reported on demographic and pandemic-related characteristics. Principal component and Cronbach's alpha analyses were performed to assess the factor structure and reliability of the scale. Logistic regressions were employed to assess the scale's convergent and discriminative validity. Results: Two factors pertaining to “lack of confidence” (Factor 1) and “risk perception” (Factor 2) emerged. Cronbach's alpha indicated good reliability of Factor 1 (0.93), with lower reliability of Factor 2 (0.72). Younger age was associated with higher risk perception, with women showing less confidence and perceiving greater risks. Lower hesitancy significantly predicted actual COVID-19 vaccine uptake after adjusting for demographic and pandemic-related factors (OR = 1.16, 95%CI 1.11–1.21, p <.001). Older age, being a woman, and receiving the flu vaccine in the past year were also predictive of COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Discussion: The C19-VHS measure shows robust psychometric properties and is associated with actual vaccine uptake. Future studies assessing COVID-19 vaccination attitudes may utilize this scale to assess current COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in different contexts and cultures.
KW - COVID-19
KW - Hesitancy
KW - Psychometric properties
KW - VHS
KW - Vaccination
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85147204913&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.01.044
DO - 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.01.044
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C2 - 36725432
AN - SCOPUS:85147204913
SN - 0264-410X
VL - 41
SP - 1567
EP - 1572
JO - Vaccine
JF - Vaccine
IS - 9
ER -