Towards understanding vaccine hesitancy and vaccination refusal in Austria

Abstract

SummaryIn Austria, data on vaccine hesitancy is scarce. Available studies suggest around 1-11% of parents refuse vaccination, while many more are hesitant and consider refraining from some but not all of the recommended vaccinations. However, the key drivers for vaccine hesitancy in Austria are largely unknown. To learn more about vaccination coverage, attitude towards and knowledge around immunization as well as views on mandatory vaccination, we conducted a survey in a rural Austrian lay population including adults and children. Two paper-based questionnaires, one for adults 16 years or older and one for children aged 6-15 years, were developed, then sent to all houses of a rural community in Austria as well as handed out at the local primary and middle school, respectively. Self-reported coverage rates of children and adults were found to be low. Within the surveyed population 3% of children had never been or do not get vaccinated. More than half (57%) of the survey participants had a positive attitude towards vaccines, 21% were without reserves, 16% were found skeptical and 5% had a generally negative attitude. Knowledge about immunization in general was poor. Younger adults and people with secondary education appear to be most skeptical and negative towards vaccination. Children’s attitudes were closely linked to those of their parents. The major concern around vaccination in adults was fear of side effects. In adults, 54.2% support mandatory vaccination for Health Care Workers and 20.7% are against it. 39% of adults and 37% of children wanted more information on vaccination, preferably provided by physicians. Knowledge about disease prevention by vaccination should be improved and children could also benefit from an early age-appropriate vaccine education to strengthen health literacy. Physicians are the most trusted source of health information. Medical doctors should be aware of their very important role in transmitting trusted health information. This should include an up-to-date education in communicable disease prevention and immunization during their whole medical career. Furthermore, the curricula of health-care workers may need to be improved and harmonized concerning prevention and vaccination.

The Long and Winding Road: Uptake, Acceptability, and Potential Influencing Factors of COVID-19 Vaccination in Austria

“…Previous studies on vaccine hesitancy in Austria reported similar findings that the family general practitioners (GPs) enjoyed the highest levels of trust in their study population and noted that additional information communicated by GPs might be beneficial to counteract vaccine hesitancy [ 7 , 16 ].…”

“…This apparent gender disparity results in the main limitation of this study. In Austria, insufficient vaccination promotion activity has been reported in the past, and stakeholders face complex challenges regarding the current events of the pandemic [ 16 ]. Furthermore, vaccination records are primarily paper-based and poorly standardized, if at all.…”

“…Numerous studies have addressed vaccine hesitancy and its change in response to the COVID-19 pandemic [ 15 ]. There is only a little research on vaccine hesitancy in Austria to date, and further investigation into its contributing factors is necessary [ 16 ]. In Austria, physicians and family doctors are the most trusted source of health information, and their recommendations can substantially impact people’s attitudes towards vaccines [ 16 ].…”

“…There is only a little research on vaccine hesitancy in Austria to date, and further investigation into its contributing factors is necessary [ 16 ]. In Austria, physicians and family doctors are the most trusted source of health information, and their recommendations can substantially impact people’s attitudes towards vaccines [ 16 ]. This study aimed to understand better the factors contributing to vaccine reluctance in Austria to counteract and overcome obstacles that create uncertainty and skepticism and provide transparent and fact-based public health strategies to enhance immunization coverage.…”

Pre-Vaccination COVID-19 Vaccine Literacy in a Croatian Adult Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…The concept of vaccine literacy (VL) is founded on the concept of health literacy [ 7 ] and is defined not only as a level of knowledge about vaccination but also as the development/construction of a system that would facilitate the communication or spread of messages about vaccines as being necessary, without which the functioning of the health system would be impossible [ 7 ]. Bauer and others (2017) conducted research about vaccine rejection in Austria, in which they explained how generally a very low level of knowledge is present about vaccination, along with an accentuated fear of the consequences of vaccination [ 16 ]. The authors see a potential solution in the implementation of specific education in the early education of children and in raising the awareness of doctors as the most reliable source of health information [ 16 ].…”