Concerns about vaccine efficacy, safety, duration of protection, and number of doses in the primary series were the most important drivers of global COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, according to findings presented at AMCP 2023.

“Effective vaccination strategies require in-depth understanding of the drivers of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and patient preference within the dynamics of the COVID-19 landscape,” researchers said.

Using Ovid MEDLINE, investigators conducted a targeted literature review of English-language studies published from January 2020 to September 2022. The review involved 35 qualitative and quantitative patient preference studies conducted in the United States, Europe, Israel, China, Australia, or across multiple countries. 

A total of 30 attributes were associated with vaccine preferences and hesitancy, according to the findings. The most frequently reported attributes involved vaccine efficacy, safety, duration of protection, and number of doses in the primary series.

Additionally, patients of younger ages, ethnic minorities, lower education, and lower incomes had higher rates of vaccine hesitancy.

“These findings have informed an ongoing multinational population COVID-19 vaccine preference research study to elicit patient-reported quantitative trade-offs that can aid future policy and tailored vaccine recommendations,” the investigators said.

Efforts to fill gaps in the literature, such as exploring patient preferences for new vaccine technologies and the frequency of booster doses, may provide more insights as COVID-19 continues to evolve, researchers said.

“As the pandemic unfolds, it is critical that policy makers and manufacturers understand the evolving drivers of COVID-19 vaccine preference and hesitancy, to support public health objectives for vaccine coverage,” they concluded.

Reference:
Galinsky J, Bhashyam SS, Shane LG, Salisbury D. Drivers of global patient preferences for COVID-19 vaccines: A targeted literature review. J Manag Care Spec Pharm. 2023;29(10-a suppl):S1-S137. https://www.jmcp.org/pb-assets/Poster%20Abstract%20Supplements/AMCP2023_PosterAbstractSupplement_0317-1679318682267.pdf