Download This PaperPredictors of Intention To Vaccinate for COVID-19 in the Philippines: Do Trust in Government and Trust in Vaccines Really Matter?
Jabar, M.A., Torneo, A.R., Razon, L.F., Felices, J.B.E., & Duya, H.M.R., Predictors of intention to vaccinate for COVID-19 in the Philippines: Do trust in government and trust in vaccines really matter? Asia-Pacific Social Science Review, Forthcoming
29 Pages Posted: 19 Aug 2021
Date Written: August 16, 2021
Abstract
This paper interrogates the influence of trust in government, trust in vaccines, and access to vaccine-related information as predictors of intention to vaccinate for Covid-19 among the Filipinos. It also examines the relationship between social- and personal- related measures and intention to vaccinate. Data for this article were collected from an online survey involving 1,953 respondents conducted from July to August 2020 before the trials were completed, and emergency use authorizations were issued for any of the currently approved Covid-19 vaccines. Multinomial regression results show that trust in vaccines, sex, income, perceived risk exposure, and perceived health status were significant predictors of intention to vaccinate for Covid-19. Access to information, however, was not a result that possibly arises from the mixed bag of true and false information about vaccines that proliferate, especially online. These results suggest that trust in vaccines will likely encourage individuals to vaccinate. It is recommended that the Philippine government launch confidence-building measures and strategic communication that will help build people’s trust in the vaccines. Educating the public and improving awareness about risk exposure is thus needed to stimulate intention or interest among the population to get vaccinated for Covid-19.
Note: Funding: The study was funded by De La Salle University through its two research centers: Social Development Research Centre and the Jesse M. Robredo Institute of Governance of De La Salle University
Declaration of Interests: The authors of this article declare no conflict of interest.
Patient Informed Consent Statement: The respondents were asked to read the informed consent and to confirm that they agree with the conditions for participation. Once they have indicated their agreement, the respondents were then directed to the online survey. This study underwent an ethics review by the De La Salle University Ethics Review Board with the number FAF.012.2019-2020.T2.SDRC.
Keywords: COVID-19, vaccines, trust, healthcare, government, information, vaccine propensity, vaccine hesitancy
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