Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitation: An Analysis of the Phenomenon in Italy

Abstract Vaccination hesitation is a particularly complex phenomenon that encompasses all the feelings of scepticism and rejection that people have towards vaccination. Although there have always been concerns around the issue, in recent years there have been worrying drops in vaccination coverage worldwide. This led the World Health Organization to list vaccination hesitation as one of ten serious threats to global health in 2019. This study has the aim, on the one hand, of monitoring acceptance of the Covid-19 vaccine through a survey carried out in Italy and, on the other hand, of analysing possible causes of vaccine hesitation or refusal in order to understand what lies behind the vaccination hesitation and to suggest more targeted and effective awareness campaigns. The data were collected between 24 March 2021 and 1 April 2021 (when, in Italy, about 4.5% of the population had been vaccinated against Covid-19) through a specific survey and its formulation was based on a questionnaire submitted to patients at the Tor Vergata Polyclinic, in Rome. The sample on which the analysis is based is made up of 1,371 Italian citizens over the age of 17. A multiple regression model (OLS method) constructed using a stepwise approach has allowed to investigate the factors that influence concerns about getting vaccinated against Covid-19. The results of the research shown that 34% of people are hesitant to get vaccinated against Covid-19, while 66% have no doubts. Compared to similar surveys but conducted in different time frames (before the vaccination campaign started), the percentage of hesitators is showing a decreasing trend. Moreover, the most striking value is the distribution of hesitant respondents among those with a low level of schooling (primary/middle school): more than half of them are hesitant (around 53%). The confidence in Pfizer and Moderna vaccine is virtually identical and significantly higher than confidence in AstraZeneca vaccine both in general and when stratified into the hesitant and non-hesitant sub-groups. Finally, it has been observed that concern about getting vaccinated against Covid-19 is very common in those who consider themselves hesitant. This concern appears to be significantly linked to the perception that vaccines cause disease and allergic reactions, but even more so to the speed with which the Covid-19 vaccine was developed and the distrust of AstraZeneca vaccine. The research suggests a number of actions with a view to alleviating scepticism and concern surrounding the Covid-19 vaccine should be primarily aimed at combating disinformation and fake news that circulate especially online. Keywords: Vaccination hesitation; Covid-19; Social media influence