Changes in Vaccine Hesitancy in Japan across Five Months during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Related Factors

Abstract

Although vaccination is a particularly important countermeasure against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), vaccine hesitancy may be a barrier to an effective vaccination program. It is understood that attitude towards vaccines is not a simple binominal decision between hesitancy and acceptance, but a continuum with a wide range of related factors. It is also likely to change depending on the present situation. Therefore, this study aimed to examine changes in vaccination attitudes across a five-month period during the COVID-19 pandemic and the factors associated with these changes. We conducted a web-based survey with 1000 participants in Japan in September 2021 and examined the relationship between attitudes regarding vaccination and sociodemographic, behavioral, and psychological variables. In addition, we also retrospectively asked for vaccination attitudes as of April 2021. Over the course of five months, we found that vaccine acceptance rates increased from 40.6% to 85.5%. Health-related behaviors such as regular influenza vaccination and medical checkups were consistently associated with vaccine acceptance. Moreover, psychological variables, such as anxiety and risk perception, were associated with changes in vaccination attitudes. As these attitudes can vary depending on time and circumstances, continuous interdisciplinary efforts are required to ensure effective vaccine programs.

Vaccine Hesitancy and Acceptability of COVID-19 Vaccines among Students in Medical Specialties. The University of Aden, Yemen

“…Our finding of low COVID-19 vaccine acceptance was inconsistent with what was reported from other university students in other countries like Saudi Arabia, [6]; Lebanon, [31]; Italy, [32]; Japan, [33]; the United Kingdome, [26]; Australia, [36] and France, [37] (90.4%, 87%, 86.1%, 85.5%, 73.5%, 60.5%, and 58.0%, respectively). Moreover, some studies were in line with our findings showed a low rate of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance like Turkey with 36.6% acceptance, [38]; Egyptian students 35%, [39]; Jordan with 34.9%, [22] and 33 % of the Iraqi university students [40].…”

“…This variation in acceptancy rates could be explained as due to many factors including among others the differences in local culture, the severity of the pandemic in each country, the role of the government in encouraging the people to receive the vaccine, and the availability and accessibility of the vaccine in the country [33,39,41]. In Yemen, this is the first study conducted among university students, however, a study conducted in Mukalla city, Yemen among healthcare workers has reported a high percentage of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy (74%), [21] which was much higher in comparison to our findings among students in the University of Aden (48.3%).…”

The Attitude towards Vaccination of Health Sciences Students at a Spanish University Improved over the First 18 Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Other authors report a significant increase in general confidence in vaccination among the Italian population one year into the pandemic [31]. Similarly, vaccine hesitancy is reported to have diminished in Turkey [32] and Japan [33]. However, in the USA, there has been a general reduction in favourable attitudes towards vaccination over the course of the pandemic [34], with attitudes worsening among Republican voters but remaining stable among Democrat voters.…”

Strengthened belief in vaccine effectiveness predicted increased COVID-19 vaccination intention and behaviour: Results from a nationally representative longitudinal survey of U.S. adults from July 2020 to April/May 2021

“…Waszkiewicz et al [33] surveyed respondents about their vaccination intention at two time points and asked those who were previously vaccine hesitant to disclose the reasons behind their shifting mindset; main factors were increased concern about health and safety and a desire to travel. Evans et al [34] , Harada & Watanabe [35] , Hyland et al [36] , and Maciuszeket al [37] also surveyed respondents over time, identifying potential traits or beliefs at one wave that were associated with changes in vaccination intention at a later wave. Harada & Watanabe [35] found that those who shifted from hesitant to acceptant had higher COVID-19-related anxiety and lower concern for adverse vaccine side effects.…”