Public Attitudes toward Vaccines and the Beliefs of Preventability--The Cases of Influenza, SARS and Varicella
Date Issued
2004
Date
2004
Author(s)
Kuo, Wei-Lin
DOI
zh-TW
Abstract
The general public’s attitudes toward vaccines and the beliefs in the preventability of infectious diseases are critical to the implementation and effectiveness of intervention programs. This study takes influenza, SARS and varicella as examples to explore the public’s attitudes toward vaccines, their beliefs of prevention, and factors affecting the acceptability of immunization.
Data for the present research were drawn from the telephone survey “Public Attitudes toward Vaccines and Infectious Disease in Taiwan” which was carried out in February 1994. The final data included 1587 valid interviews with persons over twenty years of age (response rate=96.5%). The major findings are:
1.General outlook on vaccines: The majority of respondents believed in the relative effectiveness of self-protection and reliance rather than vaccination in the prevention of infectious diseases. While vaccination was deemed not fully effective, which was still recognized by 56.2% of respondents as the most important approach to prevent emerging infectious diseases. Respondents who were younger, with higher educational levels, and having exposed to negative immunization events were less likely to rely on vaccines.
2.In response to vaccines for specific diseases: Younger and more educated respondents tended to disbelieve the additional effects of certain vaccines, such as influenza vaccines on SARS or avian influenza. In terms of attitudes towards active versus passive immunization, taking varicella as an example, although most people agreed upon the better immunity effect of varicella disease per se than is the vaccine, they still supported varicella vaccination for children, particularly by those respondents who were younger and more educated.
3.Disease preventability: Most people, particularly those who were older and less educated, had confidences on the effects of self-preventive strategies on influenza and SARS. Personal hygienic habits were considered most effective. Overall, people did not rely on vaccines excessively.
4.Vaccination behavior and intention: Perceptions of health (immunity) was the most powerful factor in the determination of influenza vaccination in the last winter. With regard to varicella vaccine, the reluctance to vaccination were due mostly to the avoidance of medical interventions and perceived unseriousness of varicella.
In conclusion, the general public did not heartily rely on vaccines. They still value the fundamental personal hygiene. Nevertheless, in contrary, people were willing to get vaccinated in the face of varicella, usually regarded as common and minor illness by lay people. Future research should compare those who were vaccinated and none vaccinated, or conduct among high-risk people. Finally, the government should understand the general public’s attitudes toward vaccines and vaccination, and accordingly provide sound information to help people choose appropriate preventive methods.
Subjects
SARS
流感
預防信念
疫苗
水痘
beliefs of preventability
influenza
varicella
vaccine
SDGs
Type
thesis
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