Differences in non-positive intention to accept the COVID-19 booster vaccine between three countries in the cross-border region Meuse-Rhine Euroregion: The Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany

Bilsen, Céline JA van; Stabourlos, C; Moonen, Chrissy PB; Brinkhues, Stephanie; Demarest, Stefaan; Hanssen, D.A.T.; Loo, Inge Hm van; Philippsen, D; Zanden, Brigitte AM van der; Dukers-Muijrers, Nicole H T M; Hoebe, Christian J. P. A.

doi:10.1016/j.jvacx.2023.100306

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…It was suggested that culture can influence pandemic-related behaviors, even apart from individual beliefs ( 29 ). To demonstrate, we previously showed that in the EMR, compliance and evaluation of COVID-19 measures, as well as intention to take the COVID-19 booster vaccine, were highest among German citizens and lower among Dutch citizens ( 30 , 31 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Cross-border mobility in the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion: impact of COVID-19 border restrictions on everyday activities and visiting social network members

van Bilsen,

Brinkhues,

Hoebe

et al. 2024

Front. Public Health

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IntroductionCross-border mobility (CBM) to visit social network members or for everyday activities is an important part of daily life for citizens in border regions, including the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion (EMR: neighboring regions from the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany). We assessed changes in CBM during the COVID-19 pandemic and how participants experienced border restrictions.MethodsImpact of COVID-19 on the EMR’ is a longitudinal study using comparative cross-border data collection. In 2021, a random sample of the EMR-population was invited for participation in online surveys to assess current and pre-pandemic CBM. Changes in CBM, experience of border restrictions, and associated factors were analyzed using multinomial and multivariable logistic regression analysis.ResultsPre-pandemic, 82% of all 3,543 participants reported any CBM: 31% for social contacts and 79% for everyday activities. Among these, 26% decreased social CBM and 35% decreased CBM for everyday activities by autumn 2021. Negative experience of border restrictions was reported by 45% of participants with pre-pandemic CBM, and was higher (p < 0.05) in Dutch participants (compared to Belgian; aOR= 1.4), cross-border [work] commuters (aOR= 2.2), participants with cross-border social networks of friends, family or acquaintances (aOR= 1.3), and those finding the measures ‘limit group size’ (aOR= 1.5) and ‘minimalize travel’ (aOR= 2.0) difficult to adhere to and finding ‘minimalize travel’ (aOR= 1.6) useless.DiscussionCBM for social contacts and everyday activities was substantial in EMR-citizens, but decreased during the pandemic. Border restrictions were valued as negative by a considerable portion of EMR-citizens, especially when having family or friends across the border. When designing future pandemic control strategies, policy makers should account for the negative impact of CBM restrictions on their citizens.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%