On different roles of interpersonal and institutional trust and trust in scientists in shaping COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy

This study investigated the influence of interpersonal and institutional trust and trust in scientists on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. It hypothesized that institutional trust and trust in scientists are associated with reduced vaccine hesitancy, while interpersonal trust is not associated with vaccine hesitancy. These hypotheses were tested by estimating a set of multilevel regression models for a cross-sectional multi-country survey. The findings of the study confirmed all of the hypotheses mentioned above. The findings are relevant for subsamples of individuals who had (and did not have) COVID-19, lived (and did not live) with someone who had the virus, were satisfied (and not satisfied) with healthcare, and reported better (and worse health). The findings did not change with alternative operationalization of outcome and predictor variables and modification in the statistical specification. Remarkably, the magnitude of influence of institutional trust and trust in scientists is greater than that of GDP growth at the national level and net income at the individual level. These findings suggest promoting institutional trust and trust in scientists is an important way to reduce vaccine hesitancy and increase vaccine uptake.