Partisan cues provide a very limited explanation of political differences in intentions to vaccinate against COVID-19 in France

In the past ten years, increasing attention has been paid to the influence of political identities on attitudes towards vaccines. To explain partisan differences in attitudes to vaccines, researchers have tended to focus on a “top-down” approach combining partisan cues and motivated reasoning. In this paper, we study the evolution of intentions to vaccinate against COVID-19 over time by drawing on 34 cross-sectional surveys covering a period of approximately a year and a half (March 2020-June 2021, n=38 416). Across the whole period, people who felt closest to parties on the Far Right, the Far Left and those who felt closest to no party at all were more likely to not intend to vaccinate than people who felt closest to parties on the Left, the Right and at the Center. To explain partisan differences in attitudes to vaccines, researchers have focused on a “top-down” approach combining partisan cues and motivated reasoning. We show that this approach can explain only very partly these results and that it does not pay sufficient attention to disengagement with politics. We conclude by advocating for a better articulation between work on cognitive mechanisms and work on the strategies deployed by partisan organisations to gain followers

Diversity of attitudes towards complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and vaccines: A representative cross-sectional study in France

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Explaining political differences in attitudes to vaccines in France: partisan cues, disenchantment with politics and political sophistication

In this article, we contribute to current debates on the role of partisan cues and political sophistication in explaining vaccine hesitancy by drawing on surveys conducted in France. We test whether partisan differences in attitudes to vaccines are best explained by partisan cues or by parties’ differences in propensity to attract people who distrust the actors involved in vaccination policies. We find a small effect of partisan cues and a much stronger effect of trust. But more importantly, we show that the more politically sophisticated are less vaccine hesitant and that the non-partisan are the biggest and most vaccine-hesitant group. To expose the implications of these results, we draw on the sociology of symbolic boundaries and the sociology of disenchantment with politics. We argue that the more politically sophisticated are more likely to be made aware of when politicians cross the lines of acceptable political debate

Factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine uptake among French population aged 65 years and older: results from a national online survey

International audienceAbstract Background In France, the increase in COVID-19 vaccine uptake among older adults slowed down between May and June 2021. Using the data from a national survey, we aimed to assess COVID-19 vaccine uptake among French residents aged 65 years and older, particularly at risk of severe form of the infection, and identify factors associated with non-vaccination. Methods A cross-sectional online survey collected the immunization status/intention to get the COVID-19 vaccine, reasons for vaccination/non-vaccination and factors potentially associated with vaccine uptake between May 10 and 23, 2021 among a large sample of French residents. Characteristics of participants were compared according to immunization status. Factors potentially associated with non-vaccination were computed into a multivariate logistic regression. Results Among the 1941 survey participants, 1612 (83%) reported having received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Among the 329 unvaccinated, 197 (60%) declared having the intention to get vaccinated. Younger age (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.50; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.05–2.14), thinking previously having COVID-19 (aOR = 4.01; 95% CI, 2.17–7.40), having suffered economic impact due to the pandemic (aOR = 2.63; 95% CI, 1.71–4.04), reporting an “unsafe” opinion about COVID-19 vaccine safety (aOR = 6.79; 95% CI, 4.50–10.26), reporting an “unsupportive” opinion about vaccination in general (aOR = 4.24; 95% CI, 2.77–6.49) were independent risk factors for non-vaccination. On the other hand, trust in COVID-19 vaccine information delivered by the doctor (aOR = 0.28; 95% CI, 0.16–0.48) and trust in the government’s actions (aOR = 0.50; 95% CI, 0.34–0.74) were independent protective factors for non-vaccination. Political affiliation also remained significantly associated with vaccine uptake. Conclusions Despite high overall COVID-19 vaccine uptake among the study participants, differences in vaccine uptake according to the level of concerns regarding COVID-19 vaccine safety, socioeconomic profile and trust in the government were observed. Our results reinforce the importance of “reaching out” vaccination strategy that specifically targets the most vulnerable fringe of older adult population

Vaccine hesitancy about the HPV vaccine among French young women and their parents: a telephone survey

International audienceBackground The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine reduces the burden of cervical and other cancers. In numerous countries, a slow uptakeof this vaccine persists, calling for a better understanding of the structural factors leading to vaccine acceptation. We aimed to assess the attitudes toward HPV vaccination among its intended public to explore its specific characteristics. Methods A random cross-sectional telephone survey of the French general population provided data from a sample of 2426 respondents of the target public: the parents of young women and the young women aged 15-25 themselves. We applied cluster analysis to identify contrasting attitudinal profiles, and logistic regressions with a model averaging method to investigate and rank the factors associated with these profiles. Results A third of the respondents had never heard of HPV. However, most of the respondents who had heard of it agreed that it is a severe (93.8%) and frequent (65.1%) infection. Overall, 72.3% of them considered the HPV vaccine to be effective, but 54% had concerns about its side effects. We identified four contrasting profiles based on their perceptions of this vaccine: informed supporters, objectors, uninformed supporters, and those who were uncertain. In multivariate analysis, these attitudinal clusters were the strongest predictors of HPV vaccine uptake, followed by attitudes toward vaccination in general. Conclusions Tailored information campaigns and programs should address the specific and contrasted concerns about HPV vaccination of both young women and of their parents

Exploring the feelings of being at risk of vaccine related adverse effects: A cross-sectional survey in France

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Impact of Vaccine Hesitancy on Onset, Severity and Type of Self-reported Adverse Events: A French Cross-Sectional Survey

International audienceIntroductionLittle is known about the impact of mandatory vaccination on people who are reluctant to be vaccinated, despite the potential importance in terms of public health policy.ObjectiveWe aimed to explore the relationship between vaccine hesitancy and onset, severity and characteristics of self-reported adverse events.MethodsWe used a cross-sectional online survey conducted in 2021 among a representative sample of the French population aged 18 years and older (n = 1593). All reported adverse events were analyzed and categorized by trained experts in drug safety and pharmacovigilance. Multivariate binomial regressions on the onset of self-reported adverse events, vaccine hesitancy categories and predefined responders’ characteristics were performed.ResultsOverall, 590 (37.0%) participants reported at least one adverse event, with 121 (20.5%) considered it to be severe. Proportions of reported adverse events, ranging from 18% (in non-reluctant responders) to 65% (in very reluctant responders), and their severity, ranging from 5% (non-reluctant responders) to 41% (very reluctant responders), depended highly on attitudes toward vaccination. The adverse events profile remained similar between groups. In the multivariate regression model, beyond attitude toward vaccination, younger age and female gender were significantly associated with higher reporting of vaccine adverse events.ConclusionsOur results suggest that vaccine hesitancy could be a major driver of patient-reported vaccine-related adverse events and their perceived severity. In this context, vaccinators must pay special attention to reluctant patients and inform them on the possible nocebo nature of these adverse events so as to prevent them

Change in self-perceived vaccine confidence in France after the COVID-19 vaccination campaign: A cross-sectional survey in the French general population

International audienceIntroduction: High COVID-19 vaccine coverage was obtained in France after theCOVID-19 vaccination campaign, in part due to the implementation of a COVID-19 vaccination pass, a kind of vaccine mandate. Vaccine mandates could lead to reactance and may affect confidence in vaccines. We aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign on self-perceived vaccine confidence in France.Methods: Between the 25th of April and the 9th of May 2022, we conducted a cross-sectional online survey among a representative sample of the French population aged 18 and over. The primary outcome was the perceived change in vaccine confidence after the COVID-19 vaccination campaign. We performed a multinomial regression analysis to identify factors associated with perceived decrease and increase in vaccine confidence in reference to no change.Results: Among the 1,928 respondents, decrease in vaccine confidence was reported by 579 (30 %) and increase in vaccine confidence by 259 (13.4%). Among the 1,711 vaccinated individuals, 693 (40.5%), 404 (23.6%) respectively reported that they felt strongly and a little coerced into getting vaccinated against COVID-19. Younger age, feeling coerced to get vaccinated, low confidence in health authorities, fears about vaccine side effects, and not considering vaccination as a collective responsibility were associated with perceived decrease in vaccine confidence in multivariable analysis. Men were more prone than women to report a gain in vaccine confidence.Conclusion: Vaccination campaign that included coercive measures to raise high COVID-19 vaccine coverage could have led to reactance and with an impact on vaccine confidence in general

Acceptance of childhood and adolescent vaccination against COVID-19 in France: a national cross-sectional study in May 2021

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The French health pass holds lessons for mandatory COVID-19 vaccination

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