What Motivates People to Receive Continuous COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shots? An Expectation Confirmation Theory Perspective

Abstract

(1) Background: Abundant evidence has shown that the COVID-19 vaccine booster is highly effective against the Omicron variant. It is of great practical significance to explore the factors influencing the intention to receive COVID-19 booster shots. (2) Methods: We introduced expectation confirmation theory as the basis to construct a model of the factors of the vaccination intention for COVID-19 vaccine boosters. We obtained two batches of questionnaires through Chinese social platforms, with a valid sample size of 572. To test the model, we used SmartPLS3.0 software for empirical analysis. (3) Results: In terms of the characteristics of the vaccine itself, perceived vaccine efficacy and perceived vaccine safety had significant positive effects on expectation confirmation. Regarding vaccination services, perceived vaccination convenience also had a significant positive effect on expectation confirmation. Expectation confirmation positively affected the vaccination intention for the COVID-19 vaccine boosters. Furthermore, the results showed two moderating effects: first, health consciousness negatively moderated the positive effect of perceived vaccine safety on expectation confirmation; second, the time interval since the last dose negatively moderated the positive effect of perceived vaccine efficacy on expectation confirmation. (4) Conclusions: Our research demonstrated that there is an expectation confirmation process for previous COVID-19 vaccines before people consider whether to obtain a booster shot. Perceived vaccine efficacy and perceived vaccine safety remained important factors in receiving COVID-19 booster shots, and our conclusions were consistent with previous literature. In this study, multiple dimensions such as distance and cost were used to measure perceived vaccination convenience. This new variable improve the explanatory power of the convenience of the vaccination service and enrich the variables of the factor model of vaccination intention. In addition, the moderating effects of health consciousness and time interval were found. The findings can provide a theoretical reference for public health institutions to help them understand the formation process of people’s intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine booster.

Policy Endorsement and Booster Shot: Exploring Politicized Determinants for Acceptance of a Third Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine in China

“…The questionnaire is one of the important means to investigate public health behavior willingness and its influencing factors. This research method has been used in many previous studies on Chinese public epidemic prevention behavior [ 8 , 10 , 15 , 39 ]. Although it is difficult for survey researchers to obtain more profound and more nuanced ideas and understanding from participants compared with in-depth interviews, the closed-ended questionnaire has high efficiency, and the results can be processed uniformly for quantitative statistical analysis.…”

“…While a batch of studies has examined factors associated with people’s booster shot intention in China and worldwide [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ], most have stopped at analyzing regular health considerations such as risk perceptions and perceived individual benefits. However, in China, harsh lockdowns have resulted in an extremely low incidence of new infections, causing the widespread perception of low infection susceptibility [ 10 ].…”

Factors Influencing the Purchase Intention for Online Health Popular Science Information Based on the Health Belief Model

“…The filtering item was a simple mathematical calculation question, “100 + 100 = ?” We randomly inserted a screening question into the questionnaire. If the screening question was answered incorrectly, it meant that this subject was not serious in answering the questionnaire [ 66 ]. And it is likely that the questionnaire was filled out randomly.…”

Integrating stimulus-organism-response model and theory of planned behavior to explore athletes’ intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine booster—A moderated mediation model

“…Only a few studies have made significant efforts to explore the factors influencing people's intention to receive COVID-19 vaccine booster. Understanding these factors is crucial for enhancing revaccinated acceptance, increasing revaccination rates, and reducing the risk of infection and severe illness [4][5][6][7][8][9]. For example, Kwok, Li (4) found that older age, smoking, experiencing no adverse effects from a previous COVID-19 vaccination, greater confidence in vaccines and collective responsibility, and fewer barriers in accessing vaccination services are associated with higher intention of receiving vaccine booster.…”

“…For example, Kwok, Li (4) found that older age, smoking, experiencing no adverse effects from a previous COVID-19 vaccination, greater confidence in vaccines and collective responsibility, and fewer barriers in accessing vaccination services are associated with higher intention of receiving vaccine booster. Liu, Lu (5) The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) has been widely utilized to interpret the intention of vaccination across various contexts [10]. It has been applied to understand the intention to vaccinate against H1N1 [11], HPV vaccination [12], whooping cough vaccination [13] [15], MMR vaccination [14], and hepatitis A vaccination [15].…”