Relationship between double COVID-19 vaccine uptake and trust in effectiveness and safety of vaccination in general in 23 Member states of the European Union: an ecological study

Vaccine. 2022 Jul 30;40(32):4334-4338. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.06.049. Epub 2022 Jun 23.

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between double COVID-19 vaccine uptake and trust in effectiveness and safety of vaccination in general in 23 European Union (EU) countries.

Methods: Ecological study. Data was retrieved from the Flash Eurobarometer 494 and Our World in Data. We estimated Pearson's correlation coefficients and fitted multiple linear regression models.

Results: There is a negative linear correlation between the percentage of people doubly vaccinated and the percentage of low trust in vaccine effectiveness (r = -0.48, p-value = 0.021), and the percentage of low trust in vaccine safety (r = -0.43, p-value = 0.041). There is a negative adjusted relation between the percentage of low trust in vaccine safety and the percentage of people doubly vaccinated (aβ% low trust in vaccinesafety:-0.25; 95% CI: -0.49,-0.01, p-value = 0.045).

Conclusion: An increase in health literacy of people living in certain countries in the EU may be needed to boost COVID-19 vaccine uptake.

Keywords: COVID-19; European Union; Vaccination; Vaccine effectiveness; Vaccine safety.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 Vaccines / adverse effects
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • European Union
  • Humans
  • Trust
  • Vaccination / adverse effects
  • Vaccines*

Substances

  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • Vaccines