The mediating role of vaccine hesitancy in the relations of COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs and vaccination outcomes: Which dimensions matter?

COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs have a powerful detrimental influence on COVID-19 vaccine perceptions and behaviors. We investigate an expanded range of outcomes for COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs, and we test which vaccine hesitancy dimensions mediate these relations. Our results show that COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs relate to COVID-19 vaccination willingness and receipt, flu vaccination willingness and receipt, as well as vaccine word-of-mouth. Many of these relations are mediated by vaccine hesitancy dimensions that represent perceptions that vaccines pose health risks as well as perceptions that vaccines are not needed because the respondent is healthy. Our discussion identifies directions for future research.

Automated summary

COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs have a detrimental influence on COVID-19 vaccine perceptions and behaviors. The relationship between these beliefs and vaccine willingness and receipt, as well as flu vaccine willingness and receipt, is mediated by vaccine hesitancy dimensions. These dimensions include perceptions of health risks associated with vaccines and the perception that vaccines are unnecessary for healthy individuals.