Using Contingent Valuation Method to Estimate Adults' Willingness to Pay for a Future Coronavirus 2019 Vaccination

Cost-based COVID-19 vaccination and willingness to pay: A post-pandemic review

The primary objective of this paper is to serve as a valuable resource for policymakers who are confronted with the evolving landscape of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), considering both free and cost-based vaccination approaches. The potential consequences of shifting from free to cost-based vaccination are explored, encompassing its impact on global vaccine equity and prioritization, economic well-being, healthcare systems and delivery, public health policies, and vaccine distribution strategies. Examining past studies on willingness to pay for the initial COVID-19 vaccine dose and booster shots provides insights into how individuals value COVID-19 vaccinations and underscores the significance of addressing issues related to affordability. If COVID-19 vaccinations incur expenses, using effective communication strategies that emphasize the importance of vaccination and personal health benefits can increase willingness to pay. Making COVID-19 vaccines accessible through public health programs or health insurance can help alleviate financial barriers and increase vaccination rates.

Parents' willingness to pay for their children's COVID-19 vaccine in Taiwan, China: A cross-sectional study

Most COVID-19 studies aim to assess factors influencing willingness to pay for vaccines between the public and medical staff. However, few studies focus on parents' willingness to pay for their children's COVID-19 vaccine. The current study aimed to assess parents' willingness to pay for their children's vaccination against COVID-19 and its influencing factors. This population-based cross-sectional study used a self-administered questionnaire. The inclusion criterion was parents with at least one child younger than 18 years. The final analysis included 384 valid data points. A total of 89.1% of the parents indicated that they are willing to pay for their children's vaccination against COVID-19. Among them, both fathers' and mothers' willingness to pay for their children's COVID-19 vaccine was 89.6%. The mean and median willingness to pay were% would pay for their children. Excluding other confounding factors, willingness to pay for the COVID-19 vaccine for themselves and hesitation to vaccinate their children were significantly associated with parents' willingness to pay for their children's COVID-19 vaccine. We found that 89.1% of the parents in Taiwan would pay for their children's COVID-19 vaccine. Parents' willingness to pay for themselves and hesitation to vaccinate their children were associated with willingness to pay. Reducing hesitation about vaccines and developing policies for vaccine payment may have a positive impact on willingness to pay for vaccines and promoting COVID-19 vaccination.

Behavioural and social drivers of COVID-19 vaccination in Vietnam: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Understanding of the behavioural and social drivers (BeSD) of vaccination is key to addressing vaccine hesitancy and accessibility issues. Vietnam's national COVID-19 vaccination programme resulted in high uptake of primary doses among adults, but lower booster doses for adults and primary doses for 5-11 years. This scoping review assessed BeSD influencing COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Vietnam to design interventions on reaching the national vaccination targets.

METHOD

We conducted a scoping review by searching PubMed, MedRxiv, LitCOVID, COVID-19 LOVE platform, WHO's COVID-19 research database and seven dominant Vietnamese language medical journals published in English or Vietnamese between 28 December 2019 and 28 November 2022. Data were narratively synthesised and summarised according to the four components of the WHO BeSD framework. The drivers were then mapped along the timeline of COVID-19 vaccine deployment and the evolution of the pandemic in Vietnam.

RESULTS

We identified 680 records, of which 39 met the inclusion criteria comprising 224 204 participants. Adults' intention to receive COVID-19 vaccines for themselves (23 studies) ranged from 58.0% to 98.1%. Parental intention to vaccinate their under 11-year-old children (six studies) ranged from 32.8% to 79.6%. Key drivers of vaccination uptake were perceived susceptibility and severity of disease, perceived vaccine benefits and safety, healthcare worker recommendation, and positive societal perception. Commonly reported COVID-19 vaccines' information sources (six studies) were social and mainstream media (82%-67%), television (72.7%-51.6%) and healthcare workers (47.5%-17.5%). Key drivers of COVID-19 uptake remained consistent for both adults and children despite changes in community transmission and vaccine deployment.

CONCLUSION

Key enablers of vaccine uptake for adults and children included perceived disease severity, perceived vaccine benefits and safety and healthcare worker recommendations. Future studies should assess vaccine communication targeted to these drivers, national policies and political determinants to optimise vaccine uptake.

Eliciting preferences of persons with dementia and informal caregivers to support ageing in place in the Netherlands: a protocol for a discrete choice experiment

INTRODUCTION

Ageing in place (AIP) for persons with dementia is encouraged by European governments and societies. Healthcare packages may need reassessment to account for the preferences of care funders, patients and informal caregivers. By providing insight into people's preferences, discrete choice experiments (DCEs) can help develop consensus between stakeholders. This protocol paper outlines the development of a Dutch national study to cocreate a healthcare package design methodology built on DCEs that is person-centred and helps support informal caregivers and persons with dementia to AIP. A subpopulation analysis of persons with dementia with a migration background is planned due to their high risk for dementia and under-representation in research and care.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The DCE is designed to understand how persons with dementia and informal caregivers choose between different healthcare packages. Qualitative methods are used to identify and prioritise important care components for persons with dementia to AIP. This will provide a list of care components that will be included in the DCE, to quantify the care needs and preferences of persons with dementia and informal caregivers. The DCE will identify individual and joint preferences to AIP. The relative importance of each attribute will be calculated. The DCE data will be analysed with the use of a random parameters logit model.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethics approval was waived by the Amsterdam University Medical Center (W23_112 #23.137). A study summary will be available on the websites of Alzheimer Nederland, Pharos and Amsterdam Public Health institute. Results are expected to be presented at (inter)national conferences, peer-reviewed papers will be submitted, and a dissemination meeting will be held to bring stakeholders together. The study results will help improve healthcare package design for all stakeholders.

Willingness to pay for a COVID-19 vaccine and its associated determinants in Iran

Introduction

Understanding the individuals' willingness to pay (WTP) for the COVID-19 vaccine could help design policy interventions to control the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to estimate the individuals' willingness to pay (WTP) for a COVID-19 vaccine and to identify its associated determinants.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 526 Iranian adults using a web-based questionnaire. A double-bounded contingent valuation approach was used to estimate WTP for the COVID-19 vaccine. The parameters of the model were estimated based on the maximum likelihood method.

Results

A considerable proportion of participants (90.87%) were willing to pay for a COVID-19 vaccine. Based on our discrete choice model, the estimated mean WTP for a COVID-19 vaccine was US$ 60.13 (CI: 56.80-63.46; p < 0.01). Having a higher perceived risk of being contaminated with COVID-19, higher average monthly income, higher education level, pre-existence of chronic diseases, previous experience of vaccination, and belonging to higher age groups were significant determinants associated with WTP for COVID-19 vaccination.

Conclusion

The present study indicates a relatively high WTP and acceptance of a COVID-19 vaccine among the Iranian population. Average monthly income, risk perception, education level, the preexistence of chronic disease, and previous vaccination experience increased the likelihood of WTP for a vaccine. Subsidizing the COVID-19 vaccine for the low-income population and raising risk perception among the population should be considered in formulating vaccine-related interventions.

Willingness to Pay (WTP) for COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Dose and Its Determinants in Indonesia

Willingness to pay (WTP) for booster doses of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines is an under studied research topic. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the WTP for the booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines and its predictors in Indonesia using an online survey distributed all over the provinces of this low-middle-income country. The WTP was evaluated using a basic dichotomous contingent valuation approach, and its associated determinants were evaluated using a linear regression model. Out of 2935 responders, 66.2% (1942/2935) were willing to pay for a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The majority of respondents (63.5%) were willing to pay within a price range of 100,000-500,000 Indonesian rupiah (IDR), i.e., USD 6.71-33.57. Being older than 40 years, having a higher educational level, having a higher income, knowing and understanding that booster doses were important, and having a vaccine status that is certified halal (permissible in Islamic law), were all associated with a higher WTP for the booster dose of COVID-19 vaccines. The study findings imply that the WTP for a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccination in Indonesia is lower compared to acceptance of vaccines provided free of charge. This WTP data can be utilized to develop a pricing scheme for the booster doses of COVID-19 vaccination in the country with potential benefits in other low-income countries. The government may be required to provide subsidies for the herd immunity vaccination process to proceed as anticipated. Furthermore, the public community must be educated on the importance of vaccination as well as the fact that the COVID-19 epidemic is far from being over.

Willingness to pay for booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine among healthcare workers in Taizhou,China

PURPOSE

We explored the willingness to pay for booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine among health-care workers in Taizhou, China.

METHODS

A population-based self-administered online questionnaire evaluating the willingness of health-care workers to pay for booster vaccination of COVID-19 vaccine was conducted in Taizhou, China. Of the 1102 health-care workers received the invitation, 1072 (97.3%) had received twice vaccination of COVID-19 vaccine.

RESULTS

There were 1569 (53.1%) out of 1072 health-care workers not willing to pay for thebooster dose of COVID-19 vaccines, 348 (32.5%) were willing to pay less than 100CHY for the booster dose of COVID-19 vaccines, only 155 (14.5%) were willing to pay more than 100 CHY. The factors related to willingness to pay for booster dose of COVID-19 vaccines were education level (c² = 9.42, P = .01) or whether they had adverse effect to COVID-19 vaccines (c² = 11.87, P < .01) .

CONCLUSION

This study found that about half of health-care workers were willing to pay for booster dose of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in Taizhou, China, most of them are willing to pay less than 100 CHY. Health-care workers' willingness to pay for booster dose of COVID-19 vaccines were related to sex, education level, whether they had adverse effect to COVID-19 vaccines.

Willingness to pay for a COVID-19 vaccine for oneself and one's child among individuals attending a tertiary care centre in West Bengal, India

BACKGROUND

The free-of-cost supply could not meet the demand for coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccines in India, so the government approved an injection option with a price. We aimed to determine how much money an individual would be willing to pay for a COVID-19 vaccine for themselves and their children and assess the factors determining it.

METHODS

We conducted a study among all adults visiting the outpatient department of a government tertiary care hospital in West Bengal, India, in August 2021. Trained nursing officers combined bidding game and open-ended question methods during personal interviews to estimate the willingness-to-pay (WTP) values.

RESULTS

The mean (standard deviation) age of 1565 participants was 40.8 (12.2) years with 46.5% (n = 727) males, 70.4% (n = 1102) parents, 50.0% (n = 783) educated upto class 12 and 30.9% (n = 483) belonging to upper-middle socio-economic scale (SES). The median (inter-quartile range [IQR]) WTP amount for the first dose and the subsequent/booster dose among the unvaccinated (50.2%, n = 785) and vaccinated (49.8%, n = 780) participants were ₹0 (0-100) and ₹0 (0-200), respectively. The median (IQR) WTP for inoculating children with any COVID-19 vaccine was ₹50 (0-300) in both groups. Significant differences were found in the WTP prices for adult vaccines in both groups concerning age category (P = 0.02), education (P < 0.01) and SES (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Although more than half of the respondents were unwilling to pay for themselves, WTP for COVID-19 vaccination was higher for their children. Policy-makers should consider income, education and age to cap the private sector vaccination price.

Willingness to pay for and willingness to vaccinate with the COVID-19 vaccine booster dose in China

Objective: The present study aims to assess the willingness to pay (WTP) for and willingness to vaccinate (WTV) with the Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine booster dose in China when the pandemic is under adequate control and the majority of the population is vaccinated. This study is also to identify significant factors associated with the WTP.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study on adults with no past or present COVID-19 infection. An online questionnaire was distributed to collect data on vaccination status, quarantine experience, and factors related to health beliefs on vaccination. The WTV was assessed through the vaccination preference. The WTP was examined by payment scale (PS) and iterative bidding game (IBG) administered in random order. Three IBG algorithms with different starting-price were presented randomly. The average WTP of PS and IBG were analyzed as primary outcomes using univariate and multivariate analyses. Multivariate ordered logistic regression was performed to identify significant factors for the WTP.

Results: The survey recruited 543 participants with a mean age of 32 years and 57.80% being female. The WTV rate was 86.74%, while 94.66% of participants completed full-schedule or enhanced vaccination. The mean WTP was CNY 149 (±CNY 197) and the median WTP was CNY 80. Regarding significant factors for the WTP, urban residents were 57% more likely (95% CI: 1.11-2.22) to pay for a high-priced vaccine than rural residents. Respondents who completed full-schedule vaccination were 46% more likely (95% CI: 1.03–2.07) to pay for a high-priced vaccine than those who completed enhanced vaccination. Respondents with a low household income of CNY 40k or lower were 62% less likely (95% CI: 0.21–0.66) to pay for a high-priced vaccine than those with a middle household income of CNY 110k–210k. Other significant factors associated with the WTP included the perceived benefit of vaccination and peer environmental pressure in the health belief model.

Conclusion: The WTV with the COVID-19 vaccine booster dose was high in China. The WTP was influenced by the place of residence, vaccination status, household income, perceived benefit of vaccination, and environmental peer pressure. Study findings can inform policymakers to better design vaccination programs and financial schemes involving out-of-pocket payments.

The demand for a COVID-19 vaccine

Taking willingness to pay as primitive, this paper establishes an analytical framework for demand estimation, where the estimator is robust to endogeneity of price. Applying the framework, this paper then estimates demand functions for a COVID-19 vaccine and compute the consumer surplus in both China and the UAE. We find that the price elasticities of demand are mostly greater than one in both countries. An elastic demand suggests subsidy is likely to be successful in promoting vaccination. The consumer surplus is sizeable, around 58 billion US$ in China and 646 million US$ in the UAE. The figures can inform policymakers in assessing their vaccine programs.

Acceptance and willingness to pay under the different COVID-19 vaccines: A contingent valuation method

Background

The COVID-19 vaccine is recognized as a novel tool in the battle against COVID-19. Recently, there were several types of vaccines that have a different effectiveness and safety profile. Understanding the vaccine acceptance and willingness to pay (WTP) are essential to develop a strategic plan to increase the rate of COVID-19 vaccination uptake.

Objectives

To assess the acceptance and WTP for a COVID-19 Vaccine in Thailand using the contingent valuation method (CVM). Additionally, to identify the factors that affect the acceptance and the amount of WTP for a COVID-19 Vaccine.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional survey using a payment card approach with open-ended questions during September 2021. Three hypothetical COVID-19 vaccines (Vaccines A, B, and C) in two scenarios were employed. Data were collected from 752 people. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to assess the predictors of vaccine acceptance. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze factors associated with the maximum amount WTP for a vaccine.

Results

Of 742 respondents, the highest acceptance was vaccine C (70.71%), followed by B (17.72%) and A (11.57%). Similarly, 53.87%, 41.44%, and 36.21% of the respondents expressed WTP for vaccine C, B and A, respectively. The maximum amount WTP for vaccine C was US$46, followed by B (US$35) and A (US$32). Factors affecting acceptance included monthly salary, region of residence, education, perceived risk of COVID-19 infection, knowledge and attitude about the COVID-19 vaccine. In addition, monthly salary, region of residence, education and knowledge on COVID-19 vaccine were related to maximum amount WTP.

Conclusion

Acceptance and WTP depends on vaccine characteristics. Educational campaigns should be implemented to improve people's awareness, knowledge, and attitude towards COVID-19 vaccines to increase the vaccines' acceptance. To increase the rate of vaccination, the Thai government needs to allow freedom of choice on vaccines, while considering effectiveness and safety issues.

Scope Issue in Contingent Valuation Studies of the COVID-19 Vaccine: The Case of China

BACKGROUND

Assessing the public's willingness to pay (WTP) for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine by the contingent valuation (CV) method can provide a relevant basis for government pricing. However, the scope issue of the CV method can seriously affect the validity and reliability of the estimation results.

AIM

To examine whether there are scope issues in respondents' WTP for the COVID-19 vaccine and to further verify the validity and reliability of the CV estimate results.

METHOD

In this study, nine different CV double-bounded dichotomous choices (DBDC) hypothetical COVID-19 vaccine scenarios were designed using an orthogonal experimental design based on the vaccine's attributes. A total of 2450 samples from 31 provinces in Mainland China were collected to independently estimate the public's WTP in these nine scenarios with logistic, normal, log-logistic and log-normal parameter models. Based on this estimation, several external scope tests were designed to verify the validity and reliability of the CV estimate results.

RESULTS

In the 20 pairs of COVID-19 vaccine scenarios, 6 pairs of scenarios were classified as negative scope issues, therefore not passing the external scope test. Of the remaining 14 pairs of scenarios, only four pairs of scenarios completely passed the external scope test, and one pair of scenarios partially passed the external scope test. Significant negative scope and scope insensitivity issues were revealed.

CONCLUSION

In the context of a dynamic pandemic environment, the findings of this study reveal that the CV method may face difficulty in effectively estimating respondents' WTP for the COVID-19 vaccine. We suggest that future studies be cautious in applying the CV method to estimate the public's WTP for the COVID-19 vaccine.

Public Perceptions and Willingness-to-Pay for Nanopesticides

The usage of pesticides is deemed essential to ensure crop production for global food security. Conventional chemical pesticides have significant effects on ecosystems. Nanopesticides are increasingly considered an emerging alternative due to their higher efficiency and lower environmental impacts. However, large knowledge gaps exist in the public perceptions and willingness-to-pay (WTP) for nanopesticides. Thus, we conducted a regional survey of pesticide users and food consumers on perceptions and WTP for nanopesticides across China. We found that 97.4% pesticide users were willing to pay for nanopesticides, with a main price from 25% to 40% higher than for conventional pesticides. Experience with applying pesticides, income, familiarity with and attitude toward nanopesticides, and trust in industries were significant determinants of WTP. Although the public were not familiar with nanopesticides, they had positive attitudes toward their future development and supported labeling nanoscale ingredients on products. Pesticide users presented high trust levels in governments and industries, while 34% of food consumers neutrally or distrusted industries in selling and production. This study highlights the socioeconomic and technological aspects of nanopesticides, which could provide guidance for industries to develop market strategies and for governments to design relevant regulation policies effectively, contributing to crop yield improvement and sustainable agriculture.

Willingness-to-pay for COVID-19 vaccine in ten low-middle-income countries in Asia, Africa and South America: A cross-sectional study

Vaccine hesitancy is considered as one of the greatest challenges to control the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. A related challenge is the unwillingness of the general public to pay for vaccination. The objective of this study was to determine willingness-to-pay (WTP) for COVID-19 vaccine among individuals from ten low- middle-income countries (LMICs) in Asia, Africa, and South America. Data were collected using an online questionnaire distributed during February - May 2021 in ten LMICs (Bangladesh, Brazil, Chile, Egypt, India, Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, and Tunisia). The major response variable of in this study was WTP for a COVID-19 vaccine. The assessment of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was based on items adopted from the World Health Organization (WHO) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) vaccine hesitancy scale constructs. In this study, 1337 respondents included in the final analysis where the highest number of respondents was from India, while the lowest number was from Egypt. A total of 88.9% (1188/1337) respondents were willing to pay for the COVID-19 vaccination, and 11.1% (149/1337) were not. The average WTP for COVID-19 vaccination was 87.9 US dollars ($), (range: $5-$200). The multivariate model analysis showed that the country, monthly household income, having a history of respiratory disease, the agreement that routine vaccines recommended by health workers are beneficial and having received the flu vaccination within the previous 12 months were strongly associated with the WTP. Based on the country of origin, the highest mean WTP for COVID-19 vaccine was reported in Chile, while the lowest mean WTP for the vaccine was seen among the respondents from Sudan. The availability of free COVID-19 vaccination services appears as a top priority in the LMICs for successful control of the ongoing pandemic. This is particularly important for individuals of a lower socio- economic status. The effects of complacency regarding COVID-19 extends beyond vaccine hesitancy to involve less willingness to pay for COVID-19 vaccine and a lower value of WTP for the vaccine.

Acceptance and Willingness to Pay for Vaccine Against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Among Parents of Boys in Central Vietnam

Human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine for adolescents was recommended as an effective prevention strategy of HPV-related cancers. In Vietnam, HPV vaccination has not been introduced to male adolescent. This study was conducted to examine the acceptance of having boys vaccinated against HPV and its underlying reasoning, and to identify their parent's willingness to pay (WTP) for HPV vaccination in central Vietnam. 785 parents of boys were directly interviewed based on a structured questionnaire. Parent's acceptability of HPV vaccine for their sons was identified by one question with response on 3-point scale (agree, don't know, and disagree). Multivariate logistic regression model was used to determine contributing factors to participant's acceptance. Bidding game method was applied to elicit WTP values for HPV vaccination with initial bid of 161.2 USD. The results showed that 49.2% of parents agreed to have their sons vaccinated against HPV. Factors that influenced parent's acceptance including son's age older than 12 years (OR = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.08-1.98); being eldest son (OR = 1.6; 95% CI: 1.13-2.19), being mother (OR = 1.4; 95% CI: 1.01-1.91), parents with high educational level (OR = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.11-2.47) and their knowledge of HPV and HPV vaccine (OR = 1.8; 95% CI: 1.23-2.65). Average WTP value for full doses of HPV vaccine was 137.5 USD, ranging between 9 USD and 188.3 USD. Parents' knowledge of HPV and HPV vaccine was the only factor affecting WTP value (Rho: 0.11; p-value: 0.030). The findings suggest a strategy be introduced for HPV vaccination to male adolescents in Vietnam.

Immediate and informative feedback during a pandemic: Using stated preference analysis to predict vaccine uptake rates

In response to an emerging pandemic, there is urgent need for information regarding individual evaluation of risk and preferences toward mitigation strategies such as vaccinations. However, with social distancing policies and financial stress during an outbreak, traditional robust survey methodologies of face-to-face, probabilistic sampling, may not be feasible to deploy quickly, especially in developing countries. We recommend a protocol that calls for a sensitive survey design, acceptance of a web-based approach and adjustments for uncertainty of respondents, to deliver urgently needed information to policymakers as the public health crisis unfolds, rather than in its aftermath. This information is critical to tailor comprehensive vaccination campaigns that reach critical immunity thresholds. We apply our recommendations in a regional study of 16 Latin American countries in the month following index cases of COVID-19. We use a split-sample, contingent valuation approach to evaluate the effects of cost, duration of immunity and effectiveness of the vaccine. Our results show that cost and duration of immunity are significant factors in the decision to vaccinate, while the degree of effectiveness is insignificant, unless the vaccine is 100% effective. Income as well as perceived risk and severity of the virus are important determinants also.

Attitudes, acceptance and hesitancy among the general population worldwide to receive the COVID-19 vaccines and their contributing factors: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

High rates of vaccination worldwide are required to establish a herd immunity and stop the current COVID-19 pandemic evolution. Vaccine hesitancy is a major barrier in achieving herd immunity across different populations. This study sought to conduct a systematic review of the current literature regarding attitudes and hesitancy to receiving COVID-19 vaccination worldwide.

METHODS

A systematic literature search of PubMed and Web of Science was performed on July 5th, 2021, using developed keywords. Inclusion criteria required the study to (1) be conducted in English; (2) investigate attitudes, hesitancy, and/or barriers to COVID-19 vaccine acceptability among a given population; (3) utilize validated measurement techniques; (4) have the full text paper available and be peer-reviewed prior to final publication.

FINDINGS

Following PRISMA guidelines, 209 studies were included. The Newcastle Ottawa (NOS) scale for cross-sectional studies was used to assess the quality of the studies.Overall, vaccine acceptance rates ranged considerably between countries and between different time points, with Arabian countries showing the highest hesitancy rates compared with other parts of the world.

INTERPRETATION

A variety of different factors contributed to increased hesitancy, including having negative perception of vaccine efficacy, safety, convenience, and price. Some of the consistent socio-demographic groups that were identified to be associated with increased hesitancy included: women, younger participants, and people who were less educated, had lower income, had no insurance, living in a rural area, and self-identified as a racial/ethnic minority.

Acceptance and willingness to pay for COVID-19 vaccines among pregnant women in Vietnam

Objectives

The aim of this study was to assess acceptance of COVID‐19 vaccination and the willingness to pay (WTP) for it, and investigate associated factors among pregnant women in Vietnam.

Methods

Cross‐sectional survey of pregnant women in two obstetric hospitals in Hanoi and Ca Mau provinces, Vietnam. Data on acceptance and WTP for COVID‐19, demographic characteristics, maternal characteristics, and risk perceptions toward COVID‐19 were collected. Multivariate logistic and linear regression models were performed to identify factors associated with the acceptance and WTP for the vaccine.

Results

Of 651 pregnant women, 60.4% accepted to receive the vaccine, and 82.6% of the total pregnant women were willing to pay for a COVID‐19 vaccine with the mean amount of WTP of USD 15.2 (SD ± 27.4). The most common reason for refusing vaccination was “Worry about the safety of the vaccine” (66.9%) in Hanoi and “The preventive effect of COVID‐19 is low” (45.2%) in Ca Mau. A higher income, having children, self‐perceived risk of COVID‐19 infection, and perceived risk to friends were associated with a higher likelihood of acceptance and WTP for the vaccine.

Conclusions

Implementing COVID‐19 vaccination and resource mobilisation among pregnant women in Vietnam is feasible, although communication programmes to improve risk perception and awareness about vaccine should be developed for facilitating acceptance of the vaccine.