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Volume 28, Number 8—August 2022
Research

COVID-19 Vaccination Intent and Belief that Vaccination Will End the Pandemic

Marion de VriesComments to Author , Liesbeth Claassen, Mattijs Lambooij, Ka Yin Leung, Kees Boersma, and Aura Timen
Author affiliations: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands (M. de Vries, L. Claassen, M. Lambooij, K.Y. Leung, A. Timen); Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (K. Boersma, A. Timen)

Main Article

Table 1

Survey questions and items addressing beliefs about COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccines among persons in the Netherlands*

Elements of mental models Survey items (1–25): I think… Summarized item % Responses/answer category,† n = 3,628 Mean (+SD) response score Pearson correlation for vaccination intention‡
Risk perceptions COVID-19: self
 1. …the chance is high that I will be infected with coronavirus. COVID, high likelihood infection: self 1. 10.1 2.9 (1.0) 0.1
2. 26.9
3. 38.3
4. 17.8
5. 6.9
2. …I could get seriously ill if I get infected with coronavirus.
 COVID, possibility of severe illness: self
 1. 14.3 3.0 (1.3)
 0.3
2. 24.0
3. 26.6
4. 21.0
5. 14.1
Risk perceptions COVID-19 loved ones
 3. …the chance is high that someone from my family or friends will get infected with coronavirus. COVID, high likelihood of infection: loved ones 1. 4.0 3.5 (1.1) 0.1
2. 12.4
3. 36.2
4. 27.1
5. 20.4
4. …someone from my family or friends could become seriously ill from being infected with coronavirus. COVID, possibility of severe illness: loved ones 1. 2.8 3.9 (1.1) 0.3
2. 8.7
3. 23.8
4. 30.0
5. 34.6
5. …the chance is high that I will infect others if I become infected with coronavirus myself.
 COVID, likelihood of infecting others
 1. 8.2 3.3 (1.2)
 0.2
2. 20.4
3. 25.2
4. 25.6
5. 20.6
Safety vaccination
 6. …the chance is high to experience mild side effects due to vaccination against coronavirus. Vaccination, high likelihood of mild side effects 1. 4.3 3.6 (1.1) −0.1
2. 12.9
3. 27.3
4. 33.1
5. 22.4
7. …I could get seriously ill from the coronavirus vaccine. Vaccination, possibility of severe illness 1. 34.7 2.2 (1.2) −0.6
2. 31.2
3. 20.1
4. 8.8
5. 5.2
8. …side effects of the coronavirus vaccination are well researched. Vaccination, side effects well researched 1. 13.0 3.3 (1.3) 0.7
2. 14.7
3. 19.7
4. 32.4
5. 20.3
9. …the vaccines against the coronavirus have been developed too quickly. Vaccination, developed too quickly 1. 22.5 2.7 (1.3) −0.6
2. 25.7
3. 23.4
4. 13.4
5. 14.9
10. …the new techniques used to make coronavirus vaccines are safe. Vaccination, new techniques are safe 1. 7.0 3.6 (1.1) 0.7
2. 8.6
3. 26.7
4. 34.5
5. 23.2
11. …the vaccine against coronavirus can reduce one's fertility. Vaccination, reduces fertility 1. 37.3 2.2 (1.1) −0.5
2. 17.9
3. 36.7
4. 5.1
5. 3.0
12. …if a vaccination is approved for the Dutch market, it is safe.
 Vaccination, approved therefore safe
 1. 7.2 3.7 (1.2)
 0.7
2. 10.9
3. 15.4
4. 35.7
5. 30.8
Effectiveness vaccination
 13. …the coronavirus vaccine protects me well against coronavirus disease. Vaccination, good protection 1. 5.2 3.8 (1.1) 0.7
2. 7.9
3. 17.3
4. 43.8
5. 25.7
14. …the vaccination only protects against illness from coronavirus for a short time. Vaccination, only short protection 1. 6.3 3.1 (1.0) −0.3
2. 17.4
3. 47.6
4. 21.6
5. 7.2
15. …you can infect others with coronavirus if you are vaccinated.
 Vaccination, possible of infecting others
 1. 10.9 3.0 (1.1)
 −0.3
2. 20.7
3. 38.8
4. 19.3
5. 10.4
Social benefits vaccination
 16. …I can live sooner without coronavirus measures if I get vaccinated against coronavirus. Vaccination, live longer without measures 1. 8.8 3.8 (1.3) 0.6
2. 6.6
3. 15.8
4. 30.0
5. 38.8
17. …I can go abroad sooner if I get vaccinated against coronavirus. Vaccination, can go abroad sooner 1. 7.7 3.8 (1.2) 0.3
2. 6.5
3. 17.6
4. 30.6
5. 37.6
18. …the crisis will only end if many persons vaccinated.
 Vaccination, end of crisis
 1. 7.6 4.1 (1.2)
 0.7
2. 5.5
3. 9.9
4. 27.8
5. 49.3
Alternatives to vaccination
 19. …I'm already immune to coronavirus disease. COVID, already immune 1. 48.1 2.0 (1.1) −0.3
2. 20.3
3. 21.7
4. 6.8
5. 3.1
20. …my good health protects me from coronavirus. COVID, protected by good health 1. 20.3 2.8 (1.2) −0.3
2. 20.6
3. 29.7
4. 21.9
5. 7.5
21. …there are already enough other drugs that cure disease caused by coronavirus.
 Vaccination, other drugs are available
 1. 47.6 1.9 (1.0)
 −0.5
2. 27.1
3. 18.2
4. 4.1
5. 2.9
Social norms for vaccination behavior
 22. …most of my friends and family will be vaccinated against coronavirus. Vaccination. behavior of loved ones 1. 2.7 4.2 (1.0) 0.6
2. 3.8
3. 13.2
4. 35.2
5. 45.1
23. …most of my friends and family expect me to be vaccinated against coronavirus. Vaccination, expectations of loved ones 1. 6.1 4.0 (1.2) 0.7
2. 4.9
3. 17.3
4. 27.5
5. 44.2
24. …most persons in the Netherlands will be vaccinated against coronavirus.
 Vaccination, behavior of public in the Netherlands
 1. 1.2 4.0 (0.8)
 0.3
2. 2.5
3. 16.3
4. 51.7
5. 28.3
Accessibility vaccination 25. …it will take me a lot of time or effort to get vaccinated against coronavirus. Vaccination, takes time and effort 1. 48.5 2.0 (1.2) −0.3
2. 23.6
3. 15.6
4. 7.1
5. 5.2

*Corresponds to subsequent Tables and Figures. †Responses used a 5-point Likert scale: 1, certainly not; 5. certainly yes. ‡p<0.001 by Pearson correlation (2-tailed) test with vaccination intention for all elements listed.

Main Article

Page created: June 15, 2022
Page updated: July 20, 2022
Page reviewed: July 20, 2022
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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