[Research Report] Public Opinion Survey on COVID-19 Vaccines and Immunization and Vaccination Policy (June 17, 2022)
date : 6/17/2022
Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) has presented the results of a public opinion survey on COVID-19 vaccines and immunization and vaccination policy.
The survey was conducted on March, 2022 among 1,000 people selected by region, age, and sex in ratios in that correspond to the demographics of the total population of Japan.
In addition to opinions regarding COVID-19 vaccines, the survey also examined general topics in immunization and vaccination policy.
Figures 1 and 2 show COVID-19 vaccination status among respondents when the survey was conducted.
Reasons for taking COVID-19 vaccines are as shown below. Over half of respondents who took the second and third doses said they decided to get vaccinated to more effectively help contain the pandemic; to prevent infection, the onset of symptoms, and the development of severe symptoms; as well as to reduce the risk of infections when coming into contact with people close to them (Figure 3).
On the other hand, when considering taking COVID-19 vaccines, concerns about adverse reactions and vaccine effectiveness and safety were seen among both respondents under age 65 and respondents age 65 and over (Figures 4 and 5). Concern toward adverse reactions was especially prominent among respondents age 65 and over who had not yet received the third shot.
Respondents were asked to rate several statements regarding COVID-19 vaccines on a scale from “Not problematic at all” to “Very problematic.” Comparing the total number of responses that said “Not problematic at all” or “Not very problematic” for each question, we see that those with the third shot found there to be no problems with many statements on the current state of information. Conversely, a high percentage of respondents felt that information on vaccine production and provision systems needs to be studied, discussed, and resolved. These matters included characteristics of the companies that developed the vaccines, domestic supply status, and global supply status. They also included information on post-vaccination effects, such as effects on pregnancy and duration of effectiveness.
Questions on General Immunization and Vaccination Policy Not Limited to COVID-19 Vaccines
In a question on general immunization and vaccination policy not limited to COVID-19 vaccines, approximately 30% of respondents were aware that vaccinations are conducted with coverage from public funds. Although vaccinations for over 90% of the citizens of Japan are covered by public funds, awareness toward this fact was extremely low (Figure 7).
Coverage periods for routine vaccinations are defined by the Immunization Law, and even those outside the targeted age groups can be vaccinated within coverage periods with partial or full public funding. Furthermore, people who have missed vaccinations due to unavoidable reasons such as illnesses requiring long-term treatment are still eligible for routine vaccinations within two years of recovering. However, if that period has already ended, or if someone wants to be vaccinated outside the period of eligibility for personal reasons or other reasons, their vaccination will be treated as voluntary, and they will have to pay the full cost out-of-pocket. Vaccinations provided to make up for delays are called “catch-up vaccinations,” but we found awareness toward the effectiveness of these catch-up vaccinations to be low, at just over 10% (Figure 8).
HGPI is actively working to advance immunization and vaccination policy. For more information about this project, please click here.
Top Research & Recommendations Posts
- [Policy Recommendations] Developing a National Health and Climate Strategy for Japan (June 26, 2024)
- [Survey Report] Survey of Japanese Nursing Professionals Regarding Climate Change and Health (Preliminary Version) (September 11, 2024)
- [Research Report] Building a Mental Health Program for Children and Measuring its Effectiveness (June 16, 2022)
- [Research Report] 2019 Survey on Healthcare in Japan
- [Announcement] A Turning Point Towards Building Green Healthcare Systems (June 5, 2024)
- [Research Report] The 2023 Public Opinion Survey on Satisfaction in Healthcare in Japan and Healthcare Applications of Generative AI (January 11, 2024)
- [Announcement] A Significant Step Towards the Building a Green Healthcare System: Support for the Formal Expression of Interest by the Japanese Government Delegation to the ATACH at the Executive Board Meeting of the WHO (February 16, 2024)
- [Policy Recommendations] Three Necessary Perspectives for Formulating the Basic Plan for the Promotion of Policies on Dementia: Creating a Society That is Inclusive for All People at All Times (April 1, 2024)
- [Policy Recommendations] Achieving Equity in Multidisciplinary Pain Treatment and Support Systems for Pain Management (March 31, 2023)
- [Research Report] Survey of Japanese Physicians Regarding Climate Change and Health (December 3, 2023)
Featured Posts
-
2024-09-26
[Registration Open] HGPI Salon Special Edition “The 2024 U.S. Presidential Election’s Impact on Japan’s Healthcare Policies: Future Implications for U.S.-China Relations and U.S.-Japan Cooperation” (October 28, 2024)
-
2024-10-07
[Registration Open] International Dialogue “Fostering Community and Citizen-led Approaches to AMR: Lessons from Antibiotic Smart Sweden” (October 25, 2024)
-
2024-10-07
[Registration Open] Planetary Health Expert Meeting “Building the Future of Healthcare: A Vision for Sustainable and Resilient Health Systems with GGHH” (November 5, 2024)
-
2024-10-09
[Registration Open] HGPI Salon Special Edition “Overcoming Infectious Diseases through Partnership: Focusing on examples of promoting technology transfer of antimicrobial agents” (October 21, 2024)
-
2024-10-09
[Registration Open] (Webinar) The 128th HGPI Seminar “Viewing Healthcare Disparities Through the Lens of Breast Cancer Treatment” (October 29, 2024)