Factors Associated With Willingness to Receive a COVID-19 Vaccine Among 23,819 Adults Aged 50 Years or Older: An Analysis of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

• Published in: American journal of epidemiology Vol. 191; no. 6; pp. 987 - 998
• Main Authors: Basta, Nicole E, Sohel, Nazmul, Sulis, Giorgia, Wolfson, Christina, Maimon, Geva, Griffith, Lauren E, Kirkland, Susan, McMillan, Jacqueline M, Thompson, Mary, Raina, Parminder
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Oxford University Press 20.05.2022; Oxford Publishing Limited (England)
• Subjects: Adults; Aged; Aging; Canada - epidemiology; Confidence intervals; Coronaviruses; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - prevention & control; COVID-19 Vaccines; Cross-Sectional Studies; Editor's Choice; Female; Humans; Immunization; Influenza; Influenza Vaccines; Longitudinal Studies; Older people; Original Contribution; Pandemics; Public health; Rural areas; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Statistical analysis; Vaccination; Vaccines; Viral diseases; Canada; COVID-19; Canada; SARS-CoV-2; Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging; vaccines; coronavirus disease 2019; adults; vaccination
• DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwac029
• ISSN: 0002-9262; 1476-6256

Abstract Identifying persons who are least willing to receive a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine is critical for increasing uptake via targeted outreach. We conducted a survey of 23,819 Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging participants from September 29 to December 29, 2020, to assess factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination willingness and reasons for willingness or lack thereof. Among adults aged 50–96 years, 84.1% (95% confidence interval (CI): 83.7, 84.6) were very or somewhat willing to receive a COVID-19 vaccine; 15.9% (95% CI: 15.4, 16.3) were uncertain or very or somewhat unwilling. Based on logistic regression, those who were younger, female, had lower education and income, were non-White, and lived in a rural area were less willing to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. After controlling for these factors, recent receipt of influenza vaccine (adjusted odds ratio = 14.3, 95% CI: 12.5, 16.2) or planning to receive influenza vaccine (adjusted odds ratio = 10.5, 95% CI: 9.5, 11.6), as compared with no receipt or planning, was most strongly associated with COVID-19 vaccination willingness. Willingness was also associated with believing one had never been infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) and experiencing negative pandemic consequences. Safety concerns were most common among those unwilling. Our comprehensive assessment of COVID-19 vaccination willingness among older adults in Canada, a prioritized group for vaccination due to their risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes, provides a road map for conducting outreach to increase uptake, which is urgently needed.