AUTHOR=Tao Liyuan , Wang Ruitong , Liu Jue 

TITLE=Comparison of Vaccine Acceptance Between COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza Among Women in China: A National Online Survey Based on Health Belief Model

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2021.679520

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2021.679520

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold> Influenza could circulate in parallel with COVID-19. Studies focusing on the comparison of vaccine acceptance between COVID-19 and seasonal influenza are lacking. The aim of the study was to assess and compare vaccine acceptance of COVID-19 and influenza among reproductive women in China, in order to better understand and address factors associated with vaccine acceptance and to provide guidance for targeted measures to promote vaccination.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> A national anonymous cross-sectional survey on COVID-19 and influenza vaccine acceptance among reproductive women aged 18–49 years in China was conducted online based on health belief model, a model widely used to evaluate health beliefs. Sociodemographic characteristics, health status, knowledge, attitude, and health beliefs related to COVID-19 and influenza infection and vaccination were retrieved. Pearson's χ<sup>2</sup> test was used to compare the vaccine acceptance by the factors mentioned above. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the adjusted associations of factors related to vaccine acceptance. Paired <italic>t</italic>-test was used to compare scores of health beliefs between influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate among reproductive women was 90.3% (95% CI 89.2–91.3%), which was significantly higher than influenza vaccine acceptance rate (85.5%, 95% CI: 84.2–86.7%). Influenza and COVID-19 vaccine acceptance both had the trends to decrease with age (all <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05). Living in the western region, young age, a high level of knowledge scores on disease and vaccines, a high level of perceived susceptibility, a high level of cues to action, and a low level of perceived barriers were positively associated with both COVID-19 and influenza vaccine acceptance (all <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05), while influenza vaccination history was additionally associated with influenza vaccine acceptance (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05).</p><p><bold>Conclusions:</bold> Our findings suggest that tailored public health measures are needed to improve reproductive women's knowledge of COVID-19, influenza, and vaccines to alleviate women's vaccine hesitancy and expand vaccine uptake.</p>