Reasons for the Intention to Refuse COVID-19 Vaccination and Their Association with Preferred Sources of Information in a Nationwide, Population-Based Sample in Italy, before COVID-19 Vaccines Roll Out

Sources of information on health and vaccines such as social media, online forums, televisions, and newspapers contributed to the spread of information related to COVID-19 and, in some cases, misinformation and vaccine hesitancy. Understanding what can influence the intention to refuse COVID-19 vaccination may help to plan future public health strategies aimed at increasing vaccination coverage. This study aimed to assess the reasons for the intention to refuse the COVID-19 vaccines and the possible association between these reasons and the preferred sources of information on vaccines. An anonymous online survey was shared among the general adult population living in Italy. Only participants aged 18 or older and living in Italy were considered eligible. The questionnaires that reported the intention to refuse COVID-19 vaccination were analyzed. A total of 677 participants (from 7563 valid questionnaires) reported the intention to refuse to vaccinate against COVID-19. Most of them used search engines (n = 390, 57.6%) to seek information about vaccines, while the fear of adverse reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine was the most mentioned reason for being unwilling to get vaccinated (n = 402, 59.4%). These data may be important to build new knowledge on the impact that different sources of information can have on the willingness to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Automated summary

Sources of health and vaccine information like social media, online forums, TV, and newspapers can impact the intention to refuse COVID-19 vaccination. A study in Italy found that fear of adverse reactions to the vaccine was a major reason for vaccine hesitancy among participants who preferred using search engines to seek vaccine information. Understanding these factors is crucial for developing strategies to increase COVID-19 vaccination coverage.