Socio-Contextual Determinants of Vaccination Compliance: The Case of the 2009 H1N1 Pandemic in the United States

Abstract

Risk communication can not only be used to manage information on emerging infectious diseases, it can also have simultaneous roles in increasing vaccine coverage and non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). This study investigated socio-contextual factors influencing vaccination compliance in the initial phase of the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic in the United States (U.S.). We used data from a panel study conducted in the U.S. (n=1569). The survey instrument consisted of questions on NPIs and vaccine compliance that were presented by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including questions on respondents’ health and preventive behaviors related to the spread of H1N1. The results showed that respondents were interested in, and well-informed and worried about, H1N1. The results also showed that preventive behaviors such as frequently washing one’s hands with sanitizers can ways induce others to adopt such behaviors. It is important to enhance the degree of health communication empowerment of the population by providing accurate information on vaccination and NPIs so that members of the population have the ability to check the accuracy of information on health-related issues, including information on potential side-effects of vaccinations.