Association between sociodemographic factors and vaccine acceptance for influenza and SARS–CoV–2: A nationwide representative study in South Korea

Background: 

To enhance targeted public health strategies and improve age–specific policies based   on   identified   risk   factors,   this   study   investigated   the   associations   between sociodemographic factors and vaccination behaviors during the COVID–19 pandemic, with emphasis on age–specific vaccine cost policies.

Methods: 

This study analyzed data from the Korean Community Health Survey (KCHS) 2019–2022 with 507,964 participants, to investigate the impact of age–specific policies on vaccination behaviors during the pandemic period. Cohorts aged 19–64 and 65 or older were stratified based on age (years), sociodemographic factors, and health indicators. The cohorts were investigated to assess the influence of relevant risk factors on vaccine acceptance under the pandemic by employing weighted odds ratio and ratio of odd ratios (ROR).

Results: 

Among total 507,964 participants, the acceptance of SARS–CoV–2  

vaccine was higher among individuals with factors possibly indicating higher socioeconomic status, such as higher education level (age 19–64: ROR, 1.34 [95% CI, 1.27–1.40]; age ≥65: 1.19 [1.01–1.41]) and higher income (age 19–64: 1.67 [1.58–1.76]; age ≥65, 1.21 [1.06–1.38]) for both age cohorts, compared to influenza vaccine acceptance before the pandemic. In the context of influenza vaccination during the pandemic, the older cohort exhibited vaccine hesitancy associated with healthcare mobility factors such as lower general health status (ROR, 0.89 [0.81–0.97]).

Conclusions:   

SARS–CoV–2   vaccination   strategies   should   focus   on   reducing   hesitancy among   individuals   with   lower   social   participation   is   needed.   For   influenza   vaccine acceptance during the pandemic, strategies for the younger cohort should be targeted on individuals with lower social participation, while the older cohort should be emphasized on individuals with lower healthcare mobility.