Attitudes Toward COVID-19 Vaccination Among Young Adults in Zurich, Switzerland, September 2020

• Main Authors: Cesar Leos-Toro, Denis Ribeaud, Laura Bechtiger, Annekatrin Steinhoff, Amy Nivette, Aja L. Murray, Urs Hepp, Boris B. Quednow, Manuel P. Eisner, Lilly Shanahan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2021-05-01
• Series: International Journal of Public Health
• Subjects: vaccine willingness; COVID-19; pandemic health communication; evidence-based health messaging; vaccine acceptance; vaccine hesitancy
• Online Access: https://www.ssph-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ijph.2021.643486/full

Objectives: Young adults are essential to the effective mitigation of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19) given their tendency toward greater frequency of social interactions. Little is known about vaccine willingness during pandemics in European populations. This study examined young people’s attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines in Fall 2020.Methods: Data came from an ongoing longitudinal study’s online COVID-19-focused supplement among young adults aged 22 in Zurich, Switzerland (N = 499) in September 2020. Logistic regressions examined young adults’ likelihood of participating in COVID-19 immunization programs.Results: Approximately half of respondents reported being unlikely to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Compared to males, females were more likely to oppose COVID-19 vaccination (p < 0.05). In multivariate models, Sri Lankan maternal background and higher socioeconomic status were associated with a greater likelihood of getting vaccinated against COVID-19 (p < 0.05). Respondents were more likely to report a willingness to get vaccinated against COVID-19 when they perceived 1) an effective government response (p < 0.05) and 2) their information sources to be objective (p < 0.05).Conclusion: This study communicates aspects important to the development of targeted information campaigns to promote engagement in COVID-19 immunization efforts.