Policy Endorsement and Booster Shot: Exploring Politicized Determinants for Acceptance of a Third Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine in China

Abstract

China’s recent termination of strict COVID-19 control necessitates taking a booster vaccine shot as a precaution against the pandemic as quickly as possible. A large body of research has examined people’s attitudes toward and intentions for the booster shot. However, most studies failed to explore how China’s sociopolitical context has shaped their attitude regarding the booster jab take-up. The current study utilizes data from a national survey adopting quota sampling to analyze the Chinese public’s medical and non-medical considerations to determine their intention for the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The study found that thanks to China’s initial successful lockdown policies, personal risk and benefit perceptions did not dominate their views regarding booster vaccination. Instead, respondents’ gender, nationalism, endorsement of the zero-COVID policy, self-efficacy regarding vaccination, and perceived infection severity were the major factors underlying their booster shot intention. The situation highlights how the politicized context of China’s COVID-19 control has impacted people’s plans to practice preventive behaviors. It is necessary to offset the negative consequences. One strategy is to educate the Chinese public with more medically relevant information to help them make rational choices regarding vaccination and other protective measures. On the other hand, such education can utilize this nationalistic mental status to enhance the persuasion effect.

The Influencing Role of Cultural Values on Attitudes of the Chinese Public Towards Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for the Control of COVID-19

“…Nationalism, as a construct, can be understood as a person’s identification with their nation or people. 31 In the Chinese context, it is always associated with patriotism, showing support for the Chinese Communist Party and its policies. 32 A growing body of research has shown a link between nationalism and public health behavior.…”

“…In the context of COVID-19 prevention, people identify with an abstract country or government and certain policies. 31 Studies have shown that policy endorsement significantly impacts the willingness to receive a booster shot. 31 Other studies have confirmed that receiving two doses of COVID-19 vaccine is important in TCM acceptance.…”

“…31 Studies have shown that policy endorsement significantly impacts the willingness to receive a booster shot. 31 Other studies have confirmed that receiving two doses of COVID-19 vaccine is important in TCM acceptance. 17 Therefore, we continue to explore the important role of the policy endorsement variable in TCM epidemic prevention and control, and propose the following hypotheses:…”

A study on the factors influencing the intention to receive booster shots of the COVID-19 vaccine in China based on the information frame effect

“…On 13 December 2022, the Comprehensive Group of the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council issued the Implementation Plan for the Second Dose of Booster Immunization with the New Coronavirus Vaccine, which called for the active implementation of booster vaccination with the New Coronavirus Vaccine in China. How to better appeal to the public to receive booster shots and increase the public’s willingness to be vaccinated have become hot topics ( 5 ).…”

Unfolding COVID-19 vaccine communication campaigns in China’s neighborhoods: a qualitative study of stakeholders’ narratives

“…In academia, mainstream scholarship related to COVID-19 vaccination centers on the willingness, attitudes, confidence, and acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine among different groups, such as healthcare workers, patients living with chronic diseases, college students, older adults, and vaccine hesitators, and their determinants ( 3 , 4 ), and strategies for implementing CVPs, such as social campaigns, incentives, and science popularization ( 5 , 6 ). However, COVID-19 vaccine communication has been less explored in China.…”