Acceptance of the COVID-19 Vaccine by Foreigners in South Korea

Abstract

Vaccination against COVID-19 is an important strategy for its control. Assessing the willingness to accept the COVID-19 vaccine in different subgroups is important for an inclusive vaccination program design. Our aim was to determine the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate and associated factors among foreigners in South Korea. An online cross-sectional study was carried out from May to June 2021. In this study, 710 individuals participated and most were aged between 26 and 29 (36.1%) years. Overall, 70.8% were willing to receive the vaccine. Males were less likely to accept the vaccine than females (OR: 0.5; 95% CI: 0.4–0.7, p < 0.001). Single people were more likely to receive the vaccine than those who were married (OR: 1.4; 95% CI: 0.9–2.0, p = 0.04). Other factors associated with willingness to accept COVID-19 vaccine were; vaccine convenience (OR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.2–2.3, p = 0.002), doctors’ recommendation (OR: 2.8; 95% CI: 2.0–3.9, p < 0.001), vaccine price (OR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.2–2.3, p = 0.003), vaccine effectiveness (OR: 8.3; 95% CI: 5.8–12.1, p < 0.001), vaccine importance (OR: 7.9; 95% CI: 4.6–14.1, p < 0.001), and vaccine safety (OR: 6.9; 95% CI: 4.5–10.8, p < 0.001). Providing more information on vaccine safety and effectiveness is required to increase vaccine acceptance.

Prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among migrant and refugee groups: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Similar to what has been reported in the studies among general populations worldwide [9] , [75] , the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy commonly found in this review included: sociodemographic variables [61] , [62] , [63] , [64] , [65] , [66] , [67] , low confidence in vaccine safety and fear of adverse effects [62] , [65] , [68] , [70] , and high complacency [59] , [60] , [71] . Additionally, the negative attitude towards compulsory vaccination (i.e.…”

“…Contributing factors of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance included origin of migrants [59] , [60] , gender [28] , [61] , [62] , [63] , [64] , [65] , [66] , [67] age [63] , [65] , [67] , being enrolled in school [66] and being educated [28] , [63] , [67] , marital status [63] , durations of residence [28] , [67] , having health insurance [66] , political mistrust [59] , [61] and mistrust in vaccinations [65] , [68] , perceived individuals’ physical health [60] , perceived risk of vaccination [69] , [70] , preference to maintain precaution measures, [71] , the belief that COVID-19 vaccines are not essential [71] , superiority of natural immunity [69] , fear of personal infection [59] , being worried about getting COVID-19 infection [72] , fear concerning significant others being infected by the virus [69] , trust in health officials’ dissemination of vaccine-related information [69] , lower logistical barriers and attitudes [15] , physicians’ recommendation, vaccine price, vaccine effectiveness and importance [70] , concerns regarding newness of the vaccines [71] , vaccine safety [62] , [65] , [68] and longer-term adverse effects [62] , and being a physician or advanced practice provider interacting directly with patients from refugee, immigrant, and migrant communities [65] .…”

“…For example, a study among adult foreign populations in South Korea showed that concerns about adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccination was the most common factor associated with vaccine hesitancy [70] . In the US-based study that involved people of refugee status in 32 states besides Washington D.C., COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was associated with concerns regarding vaccine safety as well [64] .…”

Global COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate: Systematic review and meta-analysis

“…However, only one study was conducted in each of the following countries; Republic of Congo ( 59 ), Japan ( 60 ), Poland ( 10 ), Cameroon ( 7 ), Israel ( 61 ), Mexico ( 62 ), Malta ( 63 ), Scotland ( 6 ), Indonesia ( 64 ), England ( 65 ), South Korea ( 66 ), Iran ( 67 ), Nigeria ( 68 ), Tunisia ( 69 ), Netherlands ( 70 ), Thailand ( 71 ), Vietnam ( 72 ), United Arab Emirates ( 73 ), Botswana ( 74 ), Sudan ( 75 ), Czechia ( 76 ), Uganda ( 77 ), France ( 78 ), and in Egypt ( 79 ).…”

Predictors of COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptability Among Refugees and Other Migrant Populations: A Systematic Scoping Review

“…Most common sociodemographic factors associated with COVID-19 acceptance were gender, age, level of education, and marital status (Table 4). Female gender (11-21), younger age (14, 15, 17, 22-29), lower level of education (12, 16, 17, 19, 20, 22, 26, 30-32), and being single (11, 13, 26) were associated with lower vaccine acceptance in most studies.…”