Hope as a predictor for COVID-19 vaccine uptake in the US: a cross-sectional survey of 11,955 adults

Abstract

Widespread vaccine uptake is critical for ending the COVID-19 pandemic. As public health officials focus on overcoming vaccine hesitancy, simultaneously boosting hope may be equally important in the US. We analyzed data from an online cross-sectional survey conducted in June 2021. Participants were 11,955 US adults (ages 18–83) of various ethnicities, living in urban and rural settings. Of these, 71.3% had some college education. Mean age was 32.3 years and 72.4% reported being vaccinated against COVID-19. Main measures were COVID-19 self-reported vaccination status (vaccine uptake), vaccine hesitancy (Adult Vaccine Hesitancy Scale), and hope (Adult Hope Scale). The US grand mean hope score fell within the low-hope range. COVID-19 vaccine uptake was positively associated with hope, even after adjusting for vaccine hesitancy, gender, age, ethnicity, income, and urban vs. rural residence. The strong relationship between hope, vaccine confidence and vaccine uptake persisted across US populations at risk for low vaccine uptake. Our mediation analysis revealed that, for every unit increase in hope, the probability of being vaccinated went up by 5% points. Of this association, 52% was not mediated by vaccine hesitancy, but rather through a direct pathway from hope to vaccine uptake. Mediation analyses of US populations at risk of low vaccine uptake revealed similar findings. Hope may play an important role in vaccine uptake by reducing vaccine hesitancy and by directly enhancing vaccine uptake. Especially in populations at risk of low vaccine uptake, vaccine interventions that boost hope may augment public health efforts to increase US vaccination rates.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy scale and its association with actual COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Israel

“…Umucu et al [10] assessed vaccine hesitancy and uptake among 105 college students with disabilities, while adapting ten items of the VHS to COVID-19 without reporting the factor structure of the scale. Adam et al [11] conducted an online cross-sectional survey among 11,955 U.S. adults, while adapting 14 items of the VHS to COVID-19, without reporting the factor structure. Shen et al [12] assessed vaccine hesitancy associations among 2,361 Chinese adults, while adapting 10 items of the VHS to COVID-19 without assessing the scale’s association with actual vaccine uptake.…”

Infection preventionists’ experiences during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from focus groups conducted with association for professionals in infection control & epidemiology (APIC) members

“…Hope was even associated with willingness to get vaccinated. Adam et al 17 surveyed nearly 12,000 U.S. adults and found that hope was positively associated with vaccine uptake and confidence. Vaccine hesitancy, liberalized vaccine exemptions to maintain healthcare worker staffing, reported low community vaccination rates in some areas, and vaccine breakthrough were identified as sources for hope diminishment for IPs.…”