The role of religion and COVID-19 vaccine uptake in England.
Humans
England
COVID-19 Vaccines
/ administration & dosage
Male
Female
COVID-19
/ prevention & control
Adult
Religion
Middle Aged
Vaccination Hesitancy
/ statistics & numerical data
Surveys and Questionnaires
SARS-CoV-2
Vaccination
/ psychology
Young Adult
Aged
Adolescent
Immunization Programs
/ statistics & numerical data
Public Health
COVID-19
Medical mistrust
Public health policy
Religion
Vaccine hesitancy
Vaccine uptake
Journal
Vaccine
ISSN: 1873-2518
Titre abrégé: Vaccine
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 8406899
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
10 May 2024
10 May 2024
Historique:
received:
21
02
2024
revised:
02
04
2024
accepted:
02
04
2024
medline:
28
4
2024
pubmed:
28
4
2024
entrez:
27
4
2024
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
While many countries have successfully deployed COVID-19 vaccination programmes, there are disparities in their uptake. One factor influencing vaccine coverage is religion. Existing research has found a link between religious beliefs and vaccine hesitancy. This study looks at religion in England to examine its relationship with public health. This analysis used data from a survey of over 12,000 respondents in England, conducted through the YouGov Online Panel. Respondents were asked whether they identified with a religion, and if so which, and the number of COVID-19 vaccinations they had received. We employed logistic regressions to analyse the data, accounting for age, gender, education, generalised trust, trust in government, and political ideology. We find that respondents who identify as part of the Church of England have had significantly more COVID-19 vaccinations. Conversely, adherents to the Pentecostal Evangelical and Islamic faiths have had significantly fewer COVID-19 vaccinations. These relationships hold even when adjusting for age, education, level of trust, and political affiliation. This research indicates a potential influence of religious affiliation on vaccine uptake, highlighting the need for more carefully-tailored public health programmes. Recognizing the diverse associations of different religious affiliations on health behaviour is important for shaping future vaccination campaigns and policy interventions. Engaging with religious communities and leaders may be one method through which to deal with vaccine hesitancy and improve public health.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
While many countries have successfully deployed COVID-19 vaccination programmes, there are disparities in their uptake. One factor influencing vaccine coverage is religion. Existing research has found a link between religious beliefs and vaccine hesitancy. This study looks at religion in England to examine its relationship with public health.
METHODS
METHODS
This analysis used data from a survey of over 12,000 respondents in England, conducted through the YouGov Online Panel. Respondents were asked whether they identified with a religion, and if so which, and the number of COVID-19 vaccinations they had received. We employed logistic regressions to analyse the data, accounting for age, gender, education, generalised trust, trust in government, and political ideology.
RESULTS
RESULTS
We find that respondents who identify as part of the Church of England have had significantly more COVID-19 vaccinations. Conversely, adherents to the Pentecostal Evangelical and Islamic faiths have had significantly fewer COVID-19 vaccinations. These relationships hold even when adjusting for age, education, level of trust, and political affiliation.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
This research indicates a potential influence of religious affiliation on vaccine uptake, highlighting the need for more carefully-tailored public health programmes. Recognizing the diverse associations of different religious affiliations on health behaviour is important for shaping future vaccination campaigns and policy interventions. Engaging with religious communities and leaders may be one method through which to deal with vaccine hesitancy and improve public health.
Identifiants
pubmed: 38677793
pii: S0264-410X(24)00418-3
doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.04.006
pii:
doi:
Substances chimiques
COVID-19 Vaccines
0
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
3215-3219Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier India Pvt Ltd. All rights reserved.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.