Influence of COVID-19 on trust in routine immunization, health information sources and pandemic preparedness in 23 … – Nature.com

The emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus in late 2019 precipitated a global health emergency that contributed to more than 7 million reported deaths globally as of 19 January 2024 (ref. 1) and an estimated 18.2 million excess deaths between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2021 (ref. 2). The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, requiring urgent international intervention, led to an accelerated pace of research and development of multiple safe, effective COVID-19 vaccines, which were first authorized for emergency use in December 20203. The expeditious vaccine development and limited availability resulted in serious challenges in the equitable global distribution of vaccines, coupled with vaccine-related misinformation and mistrust of the science behind vaccine safety4.

Vaccine hesitancy5, pandemic fatigue6 and vaccine fatigue, defined as the inertia or inaction toward vaccine information or instruction due to perceived burden and burnout7, continue to present challenges to vaccine uptake in 2023. Although COVID-19 has been deprioritized as a substantial public health threat since 2023, the virus strains continue to circulate and, in some settings, lead to new increases in hospitalization and intensive care unit admission1. The potential impact of vaccine hesitancy on confidence in booster doses remains substantial8. In addition, documented spillover effects on routine immunization pose a threat for the reemergence of some childhood and adult vaccine-preventable diseases9,10.

In this Brief Communication, the fourth study in a series of annual global surveys across 23 countries (Brazil, Canada, China, Ecuador, France, Germany, Ghana, India, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Poland, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Trkiye, the United Kingdom and the United States)11,12,13, we report perspectives of adults in the general public on COVID-19 and routine immunization in late 2023, trust in pandemic information sources and collective preparedness to address any possible future pandemic. We also compare COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in 2023 to that in previous years to promote a better understanding of the current and future challenges public health authorities may face in encouraging vaccine uptake.

The reported uptake of at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose rose to 87.8% in 2023 across the 23 countries (Fig. 1a), as compared with 36.9% in 2021 (P<0.001) and 70.4% in 2022 (P=0.002). The reported uptake of at least one COVID-19 vaccine was similar in middle-income countries (MICs; 86.9%) and high-income countries (HICs; 87.5%) (P=0.381). COVID-19 vaccine booster acceptance among those vaccinated decreased from 87.9% in 2022 to 71.6% in 2023 (P<0.001) (Fig. 1b). This decrease was most profound in HICs (from 85.1% to 63.3%, P<0.001), compared with MICs (from 90.5% to 78.9%, P=0.010). The perspectives on willingness to get vaccinated against diseases other than COVID-19 (for example, influenza, measles and hepatitis B) indicate that 60.8% of respondents may be more and 23.1% less willing to get vaccinated in 2023, following their experience during the COVID-19 pandemic (Fig. 1c). Individual country analyses on vaccine acceptance are available in Extended Data Fig. 1.

a, COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among 23 countries, HICs and MICs. b, COVID-19 booster vaccine acceptance among 23 countries, HICs and MICs. c, Reported pandemic influence toward routine immunization. Four countries (Ghana, Kenya, Peru and Trkiye) were not included in the 2020 global survey. HICs: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States. Routine immunization referrs to other diseases (for example, flu, measles and viral hepatitis B) in the survey item.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to widespread disruptions in routine immunization services globally, including for childhood doses, resulting in delayed and reduced vaccine uptake10. The results of this study demonstrate that 23.1% of respondents are less likely to accept vaccines for diseases other than COVID-19. Experience from the diversion of healthcare resources during the pandemic, along with lockdown measures and concerns about infection, highlights the need for resilient primary care systems, especially in maintaining access to crucial prevention interventions, such as routine childhood and adult vaccination. Other challenges, including disruptions to vaccine supply chains, underscore the importance of strengthening immunization systems and services to prevent future outbreaks14,15. Moreover, the extension of COVID-19 vaccine skepticism to other vaccines, including among parents who make vaccination decisions for their children10, signals a crucial need for ongoing efforts in vaccine education and trust building. Looking ahead, these insights should inform strategies to fortify healthcare systems against similar challenges to minimize disruptions and ensure continuity of essential health services, including routine vaccinations. Meanwhile, many communities are facing increased vulnerability to vaccine-preventable diseases10, highlighting the need for innovative strategies to ensure the continuity of routine immunization and COVID-19 vaccination campaigns to improve vaccine confidence.

The survey responses on trust in sources that provide information or guidance on pandemic interventions revealed generally high levels of trust in those close to the individual, although all 11 studied sources averaged less than seven points on a ten-point scale. For example, my doctor or nurse ranked highest at 6.9 and my family and friends ranked at 6.4 (Extended Data Fig. 2d). Similarly, established health institutions such as the World Health Organization (WHO) (6.5) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (6.4) ranked high. Social media platforms (5.0) and religious leaders (5.0) each ranked neutrally (Extended Data Fig. 2d). There was variability across countries, for example, religious leaders ranked 3.16 in Sweden and 3.19 in Germany but 6.57 in Nigeria and 6.72 in India, whereas my doctor or nurse ranked 4.95 in Russia and 7.70 in Kenya (Extended Data Fig. 2e). Trust in health authorities that recommended COVID-19 vaccination was higher than trust in governments management of the COVID-19 pandemic at 65.4% and 56.4%, respectively (Extended Data Fig. 3). General trust in health authorities was 66.8% and 63.9% in MICs and HICs, respectively (P=0.542), while general trust in government was 60.7% and 51.7% in MICs and HICs, respectively (P=0.073). A decrease in perceived trust in science as a result of COVID-19 vaccine development was reported by 13.9% of respondents (MICs 13.4% and HICs 14.3%, P=0.674). A decrease in perceived trust in the pharmaceutical industry as a result of COVID-19 vaccine development was reported by 18.7% of respondents (MICs 18.4% and HICs 19.1%, respectively, P=0.772) (Extended Data Fig. 3). Trust in the science behind available COVID-19 vaccines was reported by 71.6% of respondents on average, with this value being 74.5% and 68.4% among MICs and HICs, respectively (P=0.115) (Extended Data Fig. 3). The unprecedented speed of development, the novel application of mRNA technology and the proliferation of misinformation, particularly on social media, raised concerns among some about the thoroughness of testing and long-term safety of COVID-19 vaccines and contributed to increased skepticism regarding science generally, as well as its application to preventive and therapeutic applications in particular16,17,18. Moreover, factors such as prepandemic vaccine-related controversies and mistrust in pharmaceutical companies, governments and health institutions, sometimes the result of cultural beliefs or past negative experiences, have further complicated public health communication16,19.

Perspectives on future pandemic preparedness reveal a mixed picture of confidence and trust among global populations. Approximately three-quarters (74.9%) of respondents are confident that society collectively will manage the next health crisis better than the COVID-19 pandemic, yet only 63.3% reported trusting a hypothetical WHO recommendation to vaccinate if such a crisis was announced (Fig. 2). Approximately a quarter of respondents in Russia (26.6%) and the United States (25.5%) express low trust in the WHO as a reliable source of information to announce a new pandemic threat (Extended Data Fig. 2a). Approximately half of respondents in Ghana (51.5%), India (51.3%) and Kenya (49.2%) report a high level of confidence in our collective ability to better manage the next potential health crisis (Extended Data Fig. 2c). A 2023 analysis in Kenya reporting 49.6% of respondents rating their own governments management of the pandemic as very good or excellent may inform public confidence in future management capabilities20. Confidence in Ghana may be attributable to the governments approach in preparing early readiness assessments, strategic and substantial investments in response planning and the effective use of surveillance technology21. Indias confidence in pandemic preparedness might be higher due to vaccine production capacity and public health investments in massive awareness campaigns and the rapid expansion of testing and contact tracing capabilities, despite having a large population and fragmented health system22. By contrast, 30.2% of respondents to our survey in France and 28.9% of respondents in Poland are not at all confident in our collective ability, the highest percentages among the countries studied. These findings are comparable to panel data in France and Poland demonstrating low and decreasing trust in scientists among these populations during COVID-1923. Trust in the collective scientific and health communities to respond effectively to pandemic threats will require country-specific approaches that consider relevant sociocultural factors. How much individuals trust scientists and governments, respectively, has been observed as weakly related in Brazil and the United States, suggesting populations in these countries distinguish between these two health communicator groups, whereas the relationship was stronger in France, and populations view them as more closely aligned23. For example, in the United States and Brazil, a trend toward privatization and the erosion of the governments role in mitigating public health threats exacerbated racial inequities and contributed to a fragmented response to the COVID-19 pandemic24,25. Ongoing global efforts to prepare for future global health threats promote a comprehensive vaccines plus approach that incorporates social and behavioral preventive measures alongside rigorous testing and treatment26. Heightened vaccine hesitancy relative to COVID-19, pandemic fatigue and concerted disinformation campaigns have strong implications for plans to prevent or manage future pandemics, as well as a degree of spillover effect on our collective ability to control other vaccine-preventable diseases27. This may be particularly important as it pertains to routine childhood immunizations.

MICs: Brazil, China, Ecuador, Ghana, India, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Russia, South Africa and Trkiye. Four countries (Ghana, Kenya, Peru and Trkiye) were not included in the 2020 global survey. HICs: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.

A vocal minority of vaccine-resistant populations continue to believe inaccurate and disproven claims, such as the effectiveness of ivermectin as a treatment for COVID-19 and some conspiracy theories, that drive resistance to vaccination28,29. Disinformation aiming to influence public opinion poses major challenges for communication campaigns that require heterogeneous data-driven precision public health approaches30,31. These strategies should focus on delivering clear, accurate and culturally sensitive information to specific communities through their preferred information channels and via trusted sources and on exposing the motivation of those behind disinformation. It is important to acknowledge that individuals often show a preference for information that aligns with their existing beliefs and perceive such information as more credible32. This biased selection and perception is more pronounced among those with higher health literacy32, which is a factor that health communication professionals must consider.

The critical need to catch up on routine immunizations and prepare for potential new pandemic threats, coupled with the continued spread of COVID-19, requires maintaining vigilance in addressing vaccine hesitancy globally. The varying degrees of hesitancy observed across different demographic groups and countries emphasize the importance of culturally and contextually relevant strategies that include the selection of welcomed credible sources as primary conduits of information to address and mitigate vaccine hesitancy. The findings of this study demonstrate that the WHO and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as the respondents personal doctor, were more highly trusted as sources of pandemic information. The communication of accurate and timely information, as well as countering misinformation, are pivotal in guiding public perception and behavior toward COVID-19 vaccination acceptance.

Furthermore, whole-of-society action has been recommended by pandemic researchers to address the thus far fragmented approaches seen in relation to pandemic preparedness and response33,34. Such an approach involves various sectors and actors in decision-making processes to build resilient systems and takes life risks other than health, such as employment, housing and food security status, into consideration. A proposed pandemic agreement is currently being debated in advance of the May 2024 World Health Assembly. It aims to strengthen global collaboration between countries and global health organizations, including the WHO, around improving One Health data monitoring and sharing, toward ensuring equitable access to preventive and therapeutic measures and strengthening health systems35. The intent of such an agreement would signal to Member States and their populations that pandemic preparedness to address the shortcomings of the COVID-19 pandemic response is being taken seriously, including the rapid, real-time country collaboration on surveillance and the equitable distribution of vaccines and other mitigation and elimination efforts.

Limitations to interpreting these data include the recognition of a fundamental discrepancy that may exist between the respondents reported willingness to receive the vaccine and their actual vaccination behavior. What people express in surveys can differ meaningfully from their actions27. Therefore, the findings regarding vaccine acceptance and hesitancy should not be directly equated with actual vaccine uptake; rather, the reported responses reflect attitudes and opinions at a specific point in time. As public perceptions of the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination evolves, so too might their willingness to be vaccinated. This temporal aspect suggests that the acceptance levels reported in our study are subject to change due to a variety of factors, including new information about the virus and the vaccine, changes in public health recommendations and shifts in societal norms and attitudes toward vaccination. While our study assessed individuals perceptions of trust in sources of pandemic information, including governments and health authorities, we did not investigate the quality of country responses to the pandemic, which may be an important determinant of such trust, given its independent association with COVID-19 vaccination20. Our studys design did not allow for a detailed analysis of the nuanced relationship between language, trust and cultural context, while early research on the impact of health communication language on vaccine hesitancy in bilingual settings may be mediated by cultural factors regarding trust in health and governing institutions36. We permitted participants to respond using their preferred language within their country.

This study reveals that a substantial proportion of individuals express resistance to vaccination and that concerns about COVID-19 vaccination appear to have spilled over to affect other vaccine-preventable diseases. This underscores the increasingly urgent necessity for sustained vaccine education and trust-building efforts. Moreover, although we found that people were generally confident that society will handle future health crises better, there remains a notable lack of trust and potential adherence to the recommendations of public health authorities. Health system preparedness for future outbreaks and global health threats should include improving vaccine accessibility and vaccine demand through effective, culturally and contextually relevant public communication strategies and innovative use of digital and social media in health education employing infodemic countermeasures.

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Influence of COVID-19 on trust in routine immunization, health information sources and pandemic preparedness in 23 ... - Nature.com