Information Consumption, Trust Dynamics and COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Older Adults: Implications for Health Messaging

Abstract

Staying well informed about the evolving COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine recommendations is vital for older adults, especially for low-income older adults, who have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. However, the overwhelming infodemic poses a significant challenge, affecting vaccine decision-making. This study explores how a group of predominantly low-income older adults navigate health information and how their trust in information and vaccines evolves throughout the pandemic. Our objective is to provide insights that will guide future public health messaging for this demographic. Analyzing qualitative data from 77 older adults (aged 65 to 94) collected through focus groups and interviews, our findings reveal that participants’ experiences with information overload eroded their trust in authority, leading to vaccine hesitancy. Moreover, the need for a booster has affected belief in vaccine safety and efficacy. As participants lost faith in the media and authoritative sources, they increasingly leaned on personal networks for guidance. These results underscore the urgent necessity for clear, unambiguous ongoing vaccine guidance to restore institutional trust among older adults. Additionally, recognizing the influential role of direct networks in vaccine decisions, integrating care workers, service providers, and peer-to-peer support into health messaging mechanisms could prove valuable.

Social and Structural Determinants of Health Associated with COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Older Adults in the United States

“…However, it showed that older adults aged 65-74 years were about two times more likely to be "very hesitant" and "somewhat hesitant". This could be due to a history of previous hesitancy, distrust in government, misinformation, and vaccine brands influencing vaccine intentions during the pandemic [59,[83][84][85]. The results may suggest a worsening case of vaccine hesitancy since one would expect that age group to be more receptive than older adults.…”

“…A multi-stage probability sampling design of United States households involving geographical stratification, clustering, and oversampling of certain demographic groups was used for the HRS study [59,69]. This multi-stage area probability design consists of four stage selections the primary stage selection details information regarding core samples, Hispanic supplements, Black supplements, and Florida oversampling; the secondary stage selection of area details information of second-stage sampling unit (SSU) stratification, selection, and allocation; the third stage focuses on the selection of housing units-located geographical area; and the fourth stage details participant selection, in which the interviewer made a list of all household members within each sampled housing unit [70].…”

“…A study looked at the impact of health equity in COVID-19 vaccination among older adults, focusing on occupation, language, and housing [58]. Another study examined the association between health information consumption, trust dynamics, and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among older adults [59]. In addition, a study focused on the determinants of vaccine acceptability in older adults aged 50 years and older by examining human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease, demographic characteristics, and psychosocial factors [60].…”