Vaccination hesitancy and conspiracy beliefs in the UK during the Covid-19 pandemic

<strong>Abstract</strong> <strong>Objective:</strong> Vaccination hesitancy and conspiracy beliefs are a threat to achieving population immunity in Covid-19. This study aimed to clarify the association between these and incentives to vaccination in the UK. <strong>Design:</strong> In a longitudinal study, we collected UK public data at three time points: 1) before and 2) after the development of a vaccine, and 3) after the vaccination programme was underway. <strong>Main Outcome Measures:</strong> Vaccination hesitancy; general and Covid-19 specific concerns about vaccination; belief in conspiracy theories. <strong>Results:</strong> Vaccination hesitancy decreased between Times 1 (54%) and 3 (13%). Most concerns and reported incentives related to safety, though at Time 2, incentives included endorsement by trusted public figures. We found only small effects of conspiracy belief, and only at Time 1. A minority of participants remained anti-vaccination and stated nothing would change their minds. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> Vaccination hesitancy seems to be falling the UK. However, anxiety about safety remains and could jeopardise the vaccination programme should any adverse effects be reported. Conspiracy beliefs seem to play only a minor role in hesitancy and may continue to decrease in importance with a successful vaccination programme. Understanding motivations behind vaccination hesitancy is vital if we are to achieve population immunity.摘要 研究目的：疫苗犹豫与阴谋论信念对新冠疫情的人群免疫目标构成严重威胁。本研究旨在阐明英国境内疫苗犹豫、阴谋论信念与疫苗接种动机之间的关联。 研究设计：本研究为纵向研究，共分三个时间节点收集英国公众数据：1) 新冠疫苗研发前；2) 新冠疫苗研发完成后；3) 疫苗接种计划正式启动后。 主要结局指标：疫苗犹豫程度、对疫苗接种的一般性及新冠特异性担忧、阴谋论信念水平。 研究结果：疫苗犹豫率在第1阶段（54%）至第3阶段（13%）间显著下降。多数公众担忧及报告的接种动机与疫苗安全性相关，但在第2阶段，接种动机还包括受可信公众人物背书的影响。本研究仅发现阴谋论信念存在微弱影响，且仅在第1阶段显现。少数参与者仍持反疫苗立场，并表示无任何因素可改变其态度。 研究结论：英国境内的疫苗犹豫率似乎呈下降趋势。然而，公众对疫苗安全性的焦虑依然存在，若后续出现任何不良反应报道，或会危及当前疫苗接种计划的推进。阴谋论信念对疫苗犹豫的影响仅占次要地位，且随着疫苗接种计划的顺利推进，其影响力或会进一步减弱。若要实现新冠疫情的人群免疫目标，深入理解疫苗犹豫背后的动机至关重要。