Predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the UK Household Longitudinal Study

Publication type

Journal Article

Authors

Publication date

May 15, 2021

Summary:

Vaccine hesitancy could undermine efforts to control COVID-19. We investigated the prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the UK and identified vaccine hesitant subgroups. The ‘Understanding Society’ COVID-19 survey asked participants (n=12,035) their likelihood of vaccine uptake and reason for hesitancy. Cross-sectional analysis assessed vaccine hesitancy prevalence and logistic regression calculated odds ratios. Overall vaccine hesitancy was low (18% unlikely/very unlikely). Vaccine hesitancy was higher in women (21.0% vs 14.7%), younger age groups (26.5% in 16-24 year olds vs 4.5% in 75+) and those with lower education levels (18.6% no qualifications vs 13.2% degree qualified). Vaccine hesitancy was high in Black (71.8%) and Pakistani/Bangladeshi (42.3%) ethnic groups. Odds ratios for vaccine hesitancy were 13.42 (95% CI:6.86, 26.24) in Black and 2.54 (95% CI:1.19, 5.44) in Pakistani/Bangladeshi groups (compared to White British/Irish) and 3.54 (95%CI:2.06, 6.09) for people with no qualifications versus degree. Urgent action to address hesitancy is needed for some but not all ethnic minority groups.

Published in

Brain, Behavior, and Immunity

Volume and page numbers

Volume: 94 , p.41 -50

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2021.03.008

ISSN

8891591

Subjects

Notes

Open Access

Under a Creative Commons license

Is referenced by: Scottish Government (2021) ‘COVID-19: children, young people and families. June 2021 evidence summary’, Social Research Series. Edinburgh: Scottish Government.


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