WAITING FOR THE COVID-19 VACCINE: VACCINE INTENTION, TRUST IN AUTHORITIES AND INFORMATION NEEDS

To advance our knowledge of vaccine intention mechanisms, plan effective vaccination strategies, and better direct communication efforts, this study explored whether and to what extent the perception of severity and susceptibility to the infection, trust in authorities, and demographics shaped people’s COVID-19 vaccine intention during the first COVID-19 wave. In a cross-sectional study, 1373 Italian participants completed an online survey measuring demographic features, perception of the disease severity, disease risk perception, COVID19-related worry, vaccination intention, and level of trust in authorities and news media. Higher COVID-19 vaccination intention was associated with having a regular history of seasonal flu vaccine, a greater COVID-related worry, a higher perception of disease severity, and a higher trust in the Government. These findings further our understanding of vaccine intention in a pandemic scenario where a vaccine is still hypothetical and provide valuable information on the public’s representation of the infection and precious insight into people’s future acceptance of a vaccine to inform the development of communication interven- tions aiming to maximize adherence to vaccination programmes and to modify disease-related dysfunctional representations.