The use of the health belief model to assess predictors of intent to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and willingness to pay

• Published in: Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics Vol. 16; no. 9; pp. 2204 - 2214
• Main Authors: Wong, Li Ping, Alias, Haridah, Wong, Pooi-Fong, Lee, Hai Yen, AbuBakar, Sazaly
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 01.09.2020; Taylor & Francis Group
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Betacoronavirus - immunology; Coronavirus Infections - economics; Coronavirus Infections - prevention & control; Coronavirus Infections - psychology; COVID-19; COVID-19 vaccination; COVID-19 Vaccines; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; health belief model; Health Care Surveys; Health Expenditures; Humans; intention; Malaysia; Malaysia - epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Models, Psychological; Pandemics - prevention & control; Patient Acceptance of Health Care - statistics & numerical data; Pneumonia, Viral - prevention & control; Research Paper; SARS-CoV-2; Socioeconomic Factors; Vaccination - economics; Vaccination - psychology; Viral Vaccines - economics; willingness to pay; Young Adult; Malaysia; willingness to pay; Malaysia; health belief model; COVID-19 vaccination; intention
• ISSN: 2164-5515; 2164-554X; 2164-554X
• DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2020.1790279

The development of a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infection is on the way. To prepare for public availability, the acceptability of a hypothetical COVID-19 vaccine and willingness to pay (WTP) were assessed to provide insights into future demand forecasts and pricing considerations. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from 3 to 12 April 2020. The health belief model (HBM) was used to assess predictors of the intent to receive the vaccine and the WTP. A total of 1,159 complete responses was received. The majority reported a definite intent to receive the vaccine (48.2%), followed by a probable intent (29.8%) and a possible intent (16.3%). Both items under the perceived benefits construct in the HBM, namely believe the vaccination decreases the chance of infection (OR = 2.51, 95% CI 1.19-5.26) and the vaccination makes them feel less worry (OR = 2.19, 95% CI 1.03-4.65), were found to have the highest significant odds of a definite intention to take the vaccine. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) for the amount that participants were willing to pay for a dose of COVID-19 vaccine was MYR$134.0 (SD±79.2) [US$30.66 ± 18.12]. Most of the participants were willing to pay an amount of MYR$100 [US$23] (28.9%) and MYR$50 [US$11.5] (27.2%) for the vaccine. The higher marginal WTP for the vaccine was influenced by no affordability barriers as well as by socio-economic factors, such as higher education levels, professional and managerial occupations and higher incomes. The findings demonstrate the utility of HBM constructs in understanding COVID-19 vaccination intention and WTP.