Have you done your research? Information sources and trust as predictors of vaccine intentions and uptake during Australia’s COVID-19 vaccination rollout

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background The COVID-19 pandemic generated a global “infodemic” of misinformation, shaping public perceptions, trust, and vaccine hesitancy. Although COVID-19 vaccination campaigns have concluded, understanding how people used and trusted information sources during the rollout remains relevant to improving future public health communication. Objective This study examined (1) associations between information sources and COVID-19 vaccination intentions and uptake in Australia, (2) the role of trust in these sources, and (3) discrepancies between source use and trust. Method A longitudinal survey (N = 405; 63.5% female) was conducted at two time points: Time 1, before COVID-19 vaccinations were freely available and Time 2, approximately 7 months later, after vaccines became accessible to all adults. Results Trust-based predictors explained more variance than source-use predictors, and ABC news outlets and state government sources emerged as the most consistent positive predictors of both vaccination intention and uptake. In contrast, social media use was negatively associated with both intention and uptake, although trust in social media was not a significant predictor, suggesting that reliance on social media, rather than trust in it, may be most relevant. Participants frequently relied on social media despite reporting lower trust in it. Conclusion Findings highlight persistent challenges posed by misinformation and emphasise the need to strengthen trust in credible information sources to support effective public health communication during public health crises.