Social media use is associated with lower COVID-19 booster uptake in Japan.
TL;DR
Differential associations between media use and COVID-19 booster uptake may provide important insights for designing effective communication strategies to improve vaccine acceptance in future pandemics.
Abstract
Background
Few studies have specifically examined the relationship between social media use and uptake of COVID-19 booster. This study examined the association between social media use and COVID-19 booster vaccination uptake in Japan during the pandemic.
Methods
A series of cross-sectional surveys was conducted using rapid online questionnaires among residents of Iwate Prefecture, Japan, from October 1 to 3, 2021, and from December 11 to 17, 2023 (n = 4,026). Vaccination status was assessed using a single question: "What is your vaccination status?". Respondents were categorized into two groups: individuals with incomplete booster uptake (those who had received one or two doses; n = 226) and booster acceptors (those who had received at least three doses; n = 3,800). Social media use was defined as self-reported use of Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or other social networking services. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the association between social media use and receipt of a COVID-19 booster vaccination.
Results
Social media use was significantly associated with higher odds of incomplete booster uptake of COVID-19 vaccination. This association remained statistically significant after adjustment for relevant covariates (odds ratio [OR] 1.70, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.21-2.39). Individuals with a history of COVID-19 infection prior to the initiation of booster vaccinations were less likely to receive a booster dose in an exploratory analysis (OR 3.06, 95% CI 1.28-7.32).
Conclusion
Differential associations between media use and COVID-19 booster uptake may provide important insights for designing effective communication strategies to improve vaccine acceptance in future pandemics.