Political Affiliation, Policy Measures, and Intention to Receive COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccines

Abstract

Our study aimed to assess the impact of political affiliation, personal beliefs, and policy measures on the intention to receive routine COVID-19 and influenza vaccines in the coming year. A cross-sectional study of 1256 individuals at Minnesota State and County Fairs was conducted to assess their intention to receive COVID-19 booster and influenza vaccines in the coming year. The association between vaccine intention and political affiliation, belief in collective responsibility, and workplace/school vaccine requirements were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression. Vaccine intention in the coming year was high among our participants; 65% intended to receive both vaccines, 11% intended to receive only the influenza vaccine, 7% intended to receive only the COVID-19 vaccine, and 17% planned to receive neither. Political affiliation was strongly associated with the intention to receive both vaccines. Republicans were far more likely than Democrats to report plans to receive neither vaccine (aOR: 12.8; 95% CI: 6.2–26.6), or only the influenza vaccine in the coming year (aOR: 8.7; 95% CI: 4.2–17.9). Additionally, those who planned to receive both vaccines were significantly more likely to view vaccines as a collective responsibility. This study highlights the significant influence of political affiliation and beliefs in collective responsibility on vaccine intentions.