Open AccessFactors That Influence Risk Perceptions and Successful COVID-19 Vaccination Communication Campaigns With American Indians
Author(s) -
Amanda D. Boyd,
Dedra Buchwald
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
science communication
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.38
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1552-8545
pISSN - 1075-5470
DOI - 10.1177/10755470211056990
Subject(s) - distrust , herd immunity , vaccination , pandemic , covid-19 , risk communication , perception , risk perception , psychology , medicine , family medicine , demography , environmental health , sociology , immunology , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty) , pathology , neuroscience , psychotherapist
COVID-19 vaccinations are the primary tool to end the pandemic. However, vaccine hesitancy continues to be a barrier to herd-immunity in the United States. American Indians (AI) often have higher levels of distrust in western medicine and lower levels of satisfaction with health care when compared to non-Hispanic Whites. Yet AIs have high COVID-19 vaccination rates. We discuss factors that influence AI risk perceptions of COVID-19 vaccinations including the impact of COVID-19 on AI Elders, community, and culture. We conclude with future research needs on vaccination communication and how culturally congruent communication campaigns may have contributed to high COVID-19 vaccination rates.