Individual-level social capital and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Japan: a cross-sectional study

• Main Authors: Masaki Machida (Author), Hiroyuki Kikuchi (Author), Takako Kojima (Author), Itaru Nakamura (Author), Reiko Saito (Author), Tomoki Nakaya (Author), Tomoya Hanibuchi (Author), Tomoko Takamiya (Author), Yuko Odagiri (Author), Noritoshi Fukushima (Author), Shiho Amagasa (Author), Hidehiro Watanabe (Author), Shigeru Inoue (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group, 2022-11-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 2164-5515; 2164-554X; 10.1080/21645515.2022.2086773
• Keywords: coronavirus disease; messenger rna vaccine; social capital; vaccine hesitancy; vaccine acceptance; Immunologic diseases. Allergy; RC581-607; Therapeutics. Pharmacology; RM1-950
• Source: Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, Vol 18, Iss 5 (2022)

To reduce vaccine hesitancy, it is important to identify factors that can intervene at the individual or community level. Social capital is a possible factor because it is associated with various vaccine hesitancy, such as for measles and influenza. However, limited studies have explored the association between social capital and vaccination for COVID-19, which is an unprecedented pandemic and infodemic. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the association between social capital and COVID-19 vaccination during the pandemic. This cross-sectional study used quota sampling for an online-based survey. Participants were asked whether they had previously been vaccinated for COVID-19 and their intention to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster. Social capital was evaluated using three measures (individual-level civic participation, social cohesion, and reciprocity). Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to clarify the association between social capital and previous COVID-19 vaccination status as well as intention to receive a COVID-19 booster. Participants were 2,313 individuals, of whom 87.2% had received a COVID-19 vaccine; 72.3% intended to obtain a COVID-19 booster. Individuals with any social capital are more likely to receive a COVID-19 vaccination than those with none (OR: 1.73, 95%CI: 1.18-2.54; OR: 1.58, 95%CI: 1.22-2.05; OR: 3.05, 95%CI: 2.15-4.33). These indicators were also associated with the intention to receive a COVID-19 booster. Thus, our results suggest that among the general public, those with individual-level social capital are more likely to receive a COVID-19 vaccination than those with none. Social capital may be a factor that can reduce vaccine hesitancy during a pandemic.