COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Associated Factors among General Population

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to examine COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among general population in Korea and to identify variables affecting the vaccine acceptance.Methods: Data for the study were taken from the 2021 Korean General Social Survey which collected them from a national sample of 1,205 adults aged 18 and up who lived in households in Korea using face-to-face interviews with a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis and multiple regression analysis.Results: The rate of COVID-19 vaccination was 73.1% and the mean score of vaccine acceptance was 4.7 on a 5-point scale. Among the variables in the study, age, education, experience of flu vaccination, wearing a mask and evaluation of government policy responses to COVID-19 appeared to be salient in predicting the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance.Conclusions: Policies and programs to promote COVID-19 vaccination need to develop with consideration of various factors including sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviors, attitudes and perception to COVID-19 among general people.