Abstract

Determinants of COVID-19 vaccination timing: the role of risk perception, trust in authorities, and beliefs about vaccine safety and effectiveness in vaccination uptake behavior

Deeksha Gupta, MS, Caroline Rudisill, PhD, MSc Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina

APHA 2022 Annual Meeting and Expo

Context
Despite the availability of COVID-19 vaccines, there is heterogeneous vaccine uptake among European Union (EU) member countries. Since COVID-19 vaccinations need to happen today to prevent higher likelihood of hospitalization and death, it is important to understand factors affecting the timing of COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Therefore, we examine factors associated with the timing of COVID-19 vaccination intentions in the EU.

Methods
We use data from the Flash Eurobarometer Survey 494 (May 21-26, 2020) in which EU residents were asked about their attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccinations. We also add country-level vaccination rates from Our World In Data website. We use multinomial regressions to determine how local vaccination rates, trust in government, public health authorities, and medical practitioners, social norms, risk perception and beliefs about vaccine safety affect the timing of vaccination plans.

Results
Of total participants (n=26,106), 9,063 (34.7%) were already vaccinated, 7,114 (27.3%) wanted to get vaccinated as soon as possible, 5,168 (19.8%) wanted to delay vaccination and 2,962 (11.4%) did not want to get vaccinated ever. Participants were more likely to prefer getting vaccinated soon vs. never if they saw people around them getting vaccinated (OR=4.75 [3.61,6.25]) than not and if they resided in a country with at least 30% of the population vaccinated (OR =3.49 [2.05,5.96]) than where vaccination rates were lower. Participants were also more likely to get vaccinated soon vs. never if they trusted public (OR=2.03 [1.45,2.85]) and health authorities (OR=3.34 [2.80,3.97]) for getting vaccination information and if they believed vaccines to be safe (OR=10.57 [8.36,13.36]). However, they were less likely to get vaccinated soon vs. never if they trusted online social networks for getting vaccination information (OR=0.669 [0.547,0.819]) and believed that vaccines had long-term side effects (OR=0.344 [0.265,0.446]).

Conclusion and discussion
Results from the study contribute to understanding important factors that predict timing of vaccination plans. Local vaccination rates, trust in government, public health authorities and online platforms and beliefs about vaccine safety play crucial roles. These findings can guide efforts to increase vaccination uptake and contribute to the wider knowledge base about the timing of decision-making about preventive behaviors under risk and uncertainty.

Abstract

Discussion

APHA 2022 Annual Meeting and Expo

Abstract

Outcome of antigen testing for COVID-19 on arrival at Ghana’s international airport 2020-2022

Dennis Laryea¹, Lawrence Lartey Lartey², Yaw Ampem Amoako³, Joseph Quartey², Gideon Kwarteng Acheampong¹, Patrick Kuma-Aboagye⁴ Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe⁵ (1)Disease Surveillance Department, Ghana Health Service, (2)Port Health Unit, Ghana Health Service, (3)KNUST School and Medicine and Dentistry, (4) Office of the Director General, Ghana Health Service (5)Public Health Division, Ghana Health Service

APHA 2022 Annual Meeting and Expo

Ghana as part of response measures to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19 closed the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) in March 2020. In September 2020, Ghana reopened the airport with the implementation of COVID-19 antigen testing on arrival based on a set criterion. All arriving eligible passengers were to present a negative PCR test result in addition to the rapid diagnostic testing based on Immuno-fluorescent assay technology for COVID-19 on arrival in Ghana. We review secondary data on results of COVID-19 antigen testing at the KIA among international arrivals from September 2020 to February 2022.
A total of 822,801 passengers were tested during the period under consideration. The age range for persons tested was from 5 years to 87 years. Among all passengers tested, a total of 7,425 (0.9%) were positive for COVID-19. Among all persons testing positive for COVID-19, approximately 59% were male. The month of December 2021 recorded the highest number of COVID-19 positive cases (2,383; 32.1%) with September 2020 recording the lowest number of cases (47; 0.63%). January 2022 recorded the highest proportion of COVID-19 positive cases among arrivals tested (2.72%) with October 2021 recording the lowest positivity rate of 0.14%.
The implementation of antigen testing on arrival for persons with previous PCR test for COVID-19 at the Kotoka International airport provided an extra layer of protection for the general population of Ghana against COVID-19. This public health measure has demonstrated the need for multiple layers of public health protective measures against diseases of pandemic potential.

Abstract

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APHA 2022 Annual Meeting and Expo