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

Abstract

Objective: 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.

Design: 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. 

Main Outcome Measures: Vaccination hesitancy; general and Covid-19 specific concerns about vaccination; belief in conspiracy theories.

Results: 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.

Conclusion: 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.