Socio-demographic determinants of COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Russia in the context of mandatory vaccination of employees

Abstract

The paper offers an analysis of socio-demographic factors determining uptake of COVID-19 vaccine in Russia in 2021. The study focuses in particular on the role of mandatory vaccination of workers in certain sectors of the economy. The study is empirically based on three rounds of a nationally representative telephone survey, conducted in February–October 2021, which investigated the situation and behaviour of a cross section of the Russian adult population in the context of the spread of coronavirus. The paper shows that the key factors behind vaccine uptake are age and education of the individual. People in older age groups and people with higher education are most inclined towards vaccination. By contrast, young people and people with low levels of education are least likely to be vaccinated. Other significant determinants of vaccination are experience of COVID-19 infection (self or a household member) and elderly or chronically ill members of the household. Among the employed, the economic sector where they work is an important determinant: workers in education, health care, and state and municipal administration are more likely to be vaccinated. The introduction of mandatory vaccination at a firm/organization with sanctions for unvaccinated employees has significant positive effect: the likelihood of an employee being vaccinated increases by 10 percentage points. The effect of mandatory vaccination is slightly greater for men than for women.

An Analysis of Socio-Demographic and Cultural Factors on Covid-19 Measures in the Region Victim of Outreach of Ebola Disease: Evidence From North Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“…In addition, people with high education had higher odds (AOR=2, 95% CI (0.95;5.53]) to adhere to COVID-19 measures than those with no education. These results are in opposite to what were found in Maleva et al, (2021) who pointed out the key factors behind vaccine uptake are age and education of the individual. People in older age groups and people with higher education were likely to incline towards vaccination.…”

COVID-19 and excess mortality in Russia: Regional estimates of life expectancy losses in 2020 and excess deaths in 2021

“…This compares unfavourably to even the global figure of around 60%, and is lower than in Pakistan and The Philippines. Maleva et al [ 42 ] found that Russian young people and people with low levels of education are the least likely to be vaccinated.…”

From intention to action: factors of vaccine hesitancy and vaccine refusal during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Explaining the relationship between these factors and vaccine hesitancy is of considerable interest. On the one hand, people with higher education have higher access to diverse sources of information about vaccination and are more likely to trust scientists and doctors (Maleva et al 2021). Furthermore, people with a higher level of education and income tend to show a proactive attitude towards their health, they are more likely to take responsibility for individual decisions on health (Eide, Showalter 2011).…”

“…First, these are factors of availability of vaccination services -place of residence, income and employment status (Sallam 2021). Second, vaccination behavior was also influenced by different forms of coercion on the part of the state and employers: from bans on service delivery to people without vaccination certificates to dismissal of those who refused to be vaccinated (Maleva et al 2021). However, forced vaccination has significant costs, both organizational and economic ones as well as directly related to the vaccination campaign itself -it can cause rejection and contribute to radicalization of the position of those population groups who are negative or hesitant about vaccination.…”