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Acceptability of COVID-19 Vaccines and Protective Behavior among Adults in Taiwan: Associations between Risk Perception and Willingness to Vaccinate against COVID-19

Author

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  • Feng-Jen Tsai

    (Master’s Program in Global Health and Development, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
    Program in Global Health and Health Security, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan)

  • Hsiu-Wen Yang

    (Program in Global Health and Health Security, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan)

  • Chia-Ping Lin

    (Master’s Program in Global Health and Development, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan)

  • Jeffrey Zen Liu

    (Program in Global Health and Health Security, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan)

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines and the impact of risk perception on vaccine acceptance and personal health protective behaviors in Taiwan. A nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted from 19 to 30 October 2020; 1020 participants were included in the final analysis; chi-square and logistic regression analyses were conducted. In total, 52.7% of participants were willing to receive COVID-19 vaccines, 63.5% perceived the severity of COVID-19 in Taiwan as “not serious”, and nearly 40% were worried about COVID-19 infection. Participants with higher perceived severity of COVID-19 had significantly higher odds of refusing the vaccine (OR = 1.546), while those worried about infection had lower odds of poor health protective behaviors (OR = 0.685). Vaccine refusal reasons included “the EUA process is not strict enough” (48.7%) and “side effects” (30.3%). Those who had previously refused other vaccinations were 2.44 times more likely to refuse the COVID-19 vaccines. Participants’ age had an influence on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. In general, the Taiwanese public’s acceptance of the vaccine was lower than that in other high-income countries. Elderly participants and those with college-level education and above who had previously refused vaccines had lower willingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Risk perception was positively associated with personal health protective behaviors but negatively associated with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance.

Suggested Citation

  • Feng-Jen Tsai & Hsiu-Wen Yang & Chia-Ping Lin & Jeffrey Zen Liu, 2021. "Acceptability of COVID-19 Vaccines and Protective Behavior among Adults in Taiwan: Associations between Risk Perception and Willingness to Vaccinate against COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-11, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:11:p:5579-:d:560612
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sarah Dryhurst & Claudia R. Schneider & John Kerr & Alexandra L. J. Freeman & Gabriel Recchia & Anne Marthe van der Bles & David Spiegelhalter & Sander van der Linden, 2020. "Risk perceptions of COVID-19 around the world," Journal of Risk Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(7-8), pages 994-1006, August.
    2. Ajzen, Icek, 1991. "The theory of planned behavior," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 50(2), pages 179-211, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Arianna Barazzetti & Stefano Milesi & Attà Negri, 2024. "Exploring Factors Influencing COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Refusal: A Study in Italy during the Vaccine Rollout," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(3), pages 1-12, March.
    2. Kuo-Wei Hsu & Jen-Chih Chao & Ching-Yi Hsu, 2021. "Environmental Risk Perception and Preventive Behavior during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Central Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-10, September.
    3. Cezar Morar & Alexandru Tiba & Tamara Jovanovic & Aleksandar Valjarević & Matthias Ripp & Miroslav D. Vujičić & Uglješa Stankov & Biljana Basarin & Rade Ratković & Maria Popović & Gyula Nagy & Lajos B, 2022. "Supporting Tourism by Assessing the Predictors of COVID-19 Vaccination for Travel Reasons," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-15, January.
    4. Yen-Ju Lin & Yu-Ping Chang & Wen-Jiun Chou & Cheng-Fang Yen, 2021. "Explicit and Intrinsic Intention to Receive COVID-19 Vaccination among Heterosexuals and Sexual Minorities in Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-10, July.

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