@article{Freeman_D-2021_149897,
title = {Injection fears and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy},
author = {Freeman, D. and Lambe, S. and Yu, L. and Freeman, J. and Chadwick, A. and Vaccari, C. and Waite, F. and Rosebrock, L. and Petit, A. and Vanderslott, S. and Lewandowsky, S. and Larkin, M. and Innocenti, S. and McShane, H. and Pollard, A. and Loe, B.},
month = {jun},
year = {2021},
abstract = {Background: When vaccination depends on injection, it is plausible that the blood-injectioninjury cluster of fears may contribute to hesitancy. Our primary aim was to estimate in the UK adult population the proportion of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy explained by blood-injectioninjury fears. Methods: 15,014 UK adults, quota sampled to match the population for age, gender, ethnicity, income, and region, took part (19th January–5th February 2021) in a nonprobability online survey. The Oxford COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Scale assessed intent to be vaccinated. Two scales (Specific Phobia Scale-blood-injection-injury phobia; Medical Fear Survey–injections and blood subscale) assessed blood-injection-injury fears. Four items from these scales were used to create a factor score specifically for injection fears. Results: 3927 (26.2 screened positive for blood-injection-injury phobia. Individuals screening positive (22.0 were more likely to report COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy than individuals screening negative (11.5, odds ratio=2.18, CI: 1.97-2.40, p Conclusions: Across the adult population, blood-injection-injury fears may explain approximately 1019 vaccine hesitancy. Addressing such fears will likely improve the effectiveness of vaccination programmes.},
pages = {1185-1195},
volume = {53},
issue = {4},
journal = {Psychological Medicine},
publisher = {Cambridge University Press},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291721002609},
}
