Public Awareness and Perspectives on Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccination in Hong Kong: A Comprehensive Population-Based Study
Author(s)
Chenwen Zhong, PhD1, Junjie Huang, PhD2, Martin Chi Sang Wong, MD2.
1Postdoctoral fellow, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China, 2CUHK, HK, Hong Kong.
1Postdoctoral fellow, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China, 2CUHK, HK, Hong Kong.
OBJECTIVES: Respiratory Syncytial Virus(RSV) poses a significant global health challenge, especially for high-risk groups like children and older adults. This study aims to evaluate the willingness of the general public in Hong Kong to receive a fully funded RSV vaccine and identify the factors influencing this willingness.
METHODS: An online survey was conducted in August 2024 to collect sociodemographic characteristics, constructs of the Health Belief Model(HBM), knowledge about RSV, and the willingness to accept a fully funded RSV vaccine. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses were employed to assess the impact of various factors on vaccine willingness. A parallel multiple mediator model was utilized to explore the mediation effects of HBM constructs between RSV knowledge and vaccine willingness.
RESULTS: Out of 2,099 respondents, 1,356 (64.6%) expressed a willingness to receive the fully funded RSV vaccine, while 1,068(50.9%) exhibited a high level of knowledge about RSV. Factors associated with increased likelihood of vaccine willingness included higher perceived susceptibility (p = 0.005), greater perceived severity(p < 0.001), enhanced perceived benefits (p < 0.001), stronger cues to action(p < 0.001), increased self-efficacy (p = 0.002), lower perceived barriers(p < 0.001), and not receiving government subsidies (p = 0.007). Parallel mediation analysis indicated that knowledge about RSV significantly impacted vaccine willingness, with HBM constructs mediating 77.4% of this effect. All HBM constructs exhibited positive mediation effects, except for perceived barriers, which showed a negative effect.
CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge about RSV and the willingness to receive a fully funded RSV vaccine were found to be suboptimal among the population in Hong Kong. Enhancing public awareness of RSV may improve vaccine acceptance, mediated by constructs of the HBM. Targeted public health interventions and policies are important to increase awareness and address misconceptions about RSV, including the absence of specific antiviral treatments and the vital role of vaccination in prevention.
METHODS: An online survey was conducted in August 2024 to collect sociodemographic characteristics, constructs of the Health Belief Model(HBM), knowledge about RSV, and the willingness to accept a fully funded RSV vaccine. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses were employed to assess the impact of various factors on vaccine willingness. A parallel multiple mediator model was utilized to explore the mediation effects of HBM constructs between RSV knowledge and vaccine willingness.
RESULTS: Out of 2,099 respondents, 1,356 (64.6%) expressed a willingness to receive the fully funded RSV vaccine, while 1,068(50.9%) exhibited a high level of knowledge about RSV. Factors associated with increased likelihood of vaccine willingness included higher perceived susceptibility (p = 0.005), greater perceived severity(p < 0.001), enhanced perceived benefits (p < 0.001), stronger cues to action(p < 0.001), increased self-efficacy (p = 0.002), lower perceived barriers(p < 0.001), and not receiving government subsidies (p = 0.007). Parallel mediation analysis indicated that knowledge about RSV significantly impacted vaccine willingness, with HBM constructs mediating 77.4% of this effect. All HBM constructs exhibited positive mediation effects, except for perceived barriers, which showed a negative effect.
CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge about RSV and the willingness to receive a fully funded RSV vaccine were found to be suboptimal among the population in Hong Kong. Enhancing public awareness of RSV may improve vaccine acceptance, mediated by constructs of the HBM. Targeted public health interventions and policies are important to increase awareness and address misconceptions about RSV, including the absence of specific antiviral treatments and the vital role of vaccination in prevention.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-05, ISPOR 2025, Montréal, Quebec, CA
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S1
Code
RWD43
Topic
Real World Data & Information Systems
Disease
STA: Vaccines