Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine barriers and incentives to uptake: literature review

Conclusions

This literature review has examined UK research on barriers and incentives to Covid-19 vaccination uptake. Findings have been reported following the 3Cs model developed by the WHO SAGE Working Group.

The concept of complacency has highlighted how vaccine hesitancy is related to risk perception. With many underestimating the consequences of Covid-19 infection, there has been a focus on the need for information campaigns that restate the importance of vaccines in the reduction of outbreaks and deaths.

The notion of convenience has illustrated how both practical and social/psychological barriers can affect vaccine acceptance. Guaranteeing accessibility to venues and to information in a variety of languages and formats has been identified as a key objective to achieve inclusivity and ease of vaccination.

Confidence has been used to explore the issue of trust, both in vaccine safety and effectiveness and in the system that delivers them. Mistrust in political and health authorities has been found to affect minority ethnic groups and people living in poverty in particular, revealing pre-existing health inequalities and marginalisation. Community engagement achieved by means of trusted leaders and channels has been indicated as the most effective strategy to promote public health messaging on vaccinations to these groups.

The analysis conducted here has shown how vaccine hesitancy results from a complex combination of factors, including socio-economic and cultural background, individual perceptions and attitudes, and specific circumstances. Varying infection rates and an ever-evolving science on Covid-19 and vaccines have made hesitancy fluid and situational. With misinformation representing one of the main deterrents to uptake, effective and clear communication emphasising personal and societal benefits continues to represent a crucial strategy to overcome vaccine hesitancy.