COVID-19 vaccines are the most promising means of limiting the pandemic. The present
study aims at determining the roles of several psychological variables in predicting
vaccination intention in Italy. An online questionnaire was disseminated between 9 March
and 9 May 2021. The sample included 971 participants. Results showed that most of the
participants were willing to vaccinate. Acceptance rates were correlated with age, marital
status, and area of residence. Intention to be vaccinated was positively correlated with
perceived risk, pro-sociality, fear of COVID-19, use of preventive behaviors, and trust in
government, in science, and in medical professionals. Intention to be vaccinated was
negatively associated with belief in misinformation. The degree of acceptance is likely to
be a result of the campaign tailored to address people’s negative attitudes towards
vaccines. Trust in government and trust in science were among the strongest
psychological predictors of vaccination intention. Fear of COVID-19, but not perceived risk,
was associated with increased vaccine uptake, suggesting that the affective component of
risk perception was more important than the cognitive component in predicting
participants’ behaviors. Belief in misinformation was associated with reduced vaccination
intention. Future studies will take into consideration these variables, to better understand
the multifaceted process underlying vaccination intentio