Resistance to COVID-19 vaccination has increased in Ireland and the UK during the pandemic

Philip Hyland; Frédérique Vallières; Mark Shevlin; Richard Bentall; Ryan McKay; Todd K Hartman; Orla McBride; Jamie Murphy

doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2021.04.009

Resistance to COVID-19 vaccination has increased in Ireland and the UK during the pandemic

Philip Hyland
, Frédérique Vallières
, Mark Shevlin
, Richard Bentall
, Ryan McKay
, Todd K Hartman
, Orla McBride
, Jamie Murphy

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Objectives

Hesitance and resistance to COVID-19 vaccination poses a serious challenge to achieving adequate vaccine uptake in the general population. Cross-sectional data from the early months of the pandemic indicates that approximately one-third of adults in multiple nations are hesitant or resistant to a vaccine for COVID-19. Using longitudinal data, we tracked changes in attitudes to COVID-19 vaccination during the pandemic.

Study Design

A quantitative, longitudinal design.

Method

Nationally representative samples of the adult general population of the Republic of Ireland (N = 1,041) and the United Kingdom (N = 2,025) were assessed for their attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination at three points from March to August 2020.

Results

Statistically significant increases in resistance to COVID-19 vaccination were observed in Irish (from 9.5% to 18.1%) and British (6.2% to 10%) adults.

Conclusion

Resistance to vaccination has significantly increased in two European nations as the pandemic has progressed. Growing resistance to COVID-19 vaccination will pose a challenge to public health officials responsible for ensuring sufficient vaccine coverage.

KeywordsCOVID-19 vaccinevaccine resistancevaccine hesitance

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	54-56
Journal	Public Health
Volume	195
Early online date	27 Apr 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2021.04.009
Publication status	Published - Jun 2021

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Access to Document

10.1016/j.puhe.2021.04.009Licence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{260863a89b4849389790e92d562313b4,

title = "Resistance to COVID-19 vaccination has increased in Ireland and the UK during the pandemic",

abstract = "ObjectivesHesitance and resistance to COVID-19 vaccination poses a serious challenge to achieving adequate vaccine uptake in the general population. Cross-sectional data from the early months of the pandemic indicates that approximately one-third of adults in multiple nations are hesitant or resistant to a vaccine for COVID-19. Using longitudinal data, we tracked changes in attitudes to COVID-19 vaccination during the pandemic.Study DesignA quantitative, longitudinal design.MethodNationally representative samples of the adult general population of the Republic of Ireland (N = 1,041) and the United Kingdom (N = 2,025) were assessed for their attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination at three points from March to August 2020.ResultsStatistically significant increases in resistance to COVID-19 vaccination were observed in Irish (from 9.5\% to 18.1\%) and British (6.2\% to 10\%) adults.ConclusionResistance to vaccination has significantly increased in two European nations as the pandemic has progressed. Growing resistance to COVID-19 vaccination will pose a challenge to public health officials responsible for ensuring sufficient vaccine coverage.KeywordsCOVID-19 vaccinevaccine resistancevaccine hesitance",

author = "Philip Hyland and Fr{\'e}d{\'e}rique Valli{\`e}res and Mark Shevlin and Richard Bentall and Ryan McKay and Hartman, \{Todd K\} and Orla McBride and Jamie Murphy",

year = "2021",

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doi = "10.1016/j.puhe.2021.04.009",

language = "English",

volume = "195",

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journal = "Public Health",

issn = "0033-3506",

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T1 - Resistance to COVID-19 vaccination has increased in Ireland and the UK during the pandemic

AU - Hyland, Philip

AU - Vallières, Frédérique

AU - Shevlin, Mark

AU - Bentall, Richard

AU - McKay, Ryan

AU - Hartman, Todd K

AU - McBride, Orla

AU - Murphy, Jamie

PY - 2021/6

Y1 - 2021/6

N2 - ObjectivesHesitance and resistance to COVID-19 vaccination poses a serious challenge to achieving adequate vaccine uptake in the general population. Cross-sectional data from the early months of the pandemic indicates that approximately one-third of adults in multiple nations are hesitant or resistant to a vaccine for COVID-19. Using longitudinal data, we tracked changes in attitudes to COVID-19 vaccination during the pandemic.Study DesignA quantitative, longitudinal design.MethodNationally representative samples of the adult general population of the Republic of Ireland (N = 1,041) and the United Kingdom (N = 2,025) were assessed for their attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination at three points from March to August 2020.ResultsStatistically significant increases in resistance to COVID-19 vaccination were observed in Irish (from 9.5% to 18.1%) and British (6.2% to 10%) adults.ConclusionResistance to vaccination has significantly increased in two European nations as the pandemic has progressed. Growing resistance to COVID-19 vaccination will pose a challenge to public health officials responsible for ensuring sufficient vaccine coverage.KeywordsCOVID-19 vaccinevaccine resistancevaccine hesitance

AB - ObjectivesHesitance and resistance to COVID-19 vaccination poses a serious challenge to achieving adequate vaccine uptake in the general population. Cross-sectional data from the early months of the pandemic indicates that approximately one-third of adults in multiple nations are hesitant or resistant to a vaccine for COVID-19. Using longitudinal data, we tracked changes in attitudes to COVID-19 vaccination during the pandemic.Study DesignA quantitative, longitudinal design.MethodNationally representative samples of the adult general population of the Republic of Ireland (N = 1,041) and the United Kingdom (N = 2,025) were assessed for their attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination at three points from March to August 2020.ResultsStatistically significant increases in resistance to COVID-19 vaccination were observed in Irish (from 9.5% to 18.1%) and British (6.2% to 10%) adults.ConclusionResistance to vaccination has significantly increased in two European nations as the pandemic has progressed. Growing resistance to COVID-19 vaccination will pose a challenge to public health officials responsible for ensuring sufficient vaccine coverage.KeywordsCOVID-19 vaccinevaccine resistancevaccine hesitance

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DO - 10.1016/j.puhe.2021.04.009

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JO - Public Health

JF - Public Health

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