The main decision-making competence for willingness-to-pay towards COVID-19 vaccination: a family-based study in Taizhou, China

• Published in: Annals of medicine (Helsinki) 2022-12, Vol.54 (1), p.2375-2383
• Main Authors: Luo, Chengwen, Zhang, Mei-Xian, Jiang, Eva, Jin, Mindan, Tung, Tao-Hsin, Zhu, Jian-Sheng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: China; China - epidemiology; community; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - prevention & control; COVID-19 vaccination; COVID-19 Vaccines; Decision making; Humans; Infectious Diseases; Surveys and Questionnaires; Vaccination; willingness to pay
• ISSN: 0785-3890; 1365-2060; 1365-2060
• DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2022.2114606

This research aimed to explore individuals' willingness to pay (WTP) and studied the role of family decision makers in WTP for COVID-19 vaccines. A self-administered online questionnaire evaluating the willingness of community residents to pay for booster vaccination of COVID-19 vaccine was conducted among families in a community in Taizhou, China. The logistic regression model was performed to identify the factors associated with WTP for the COVID-19 vaccines, and all data were analysed by R software, version 4.1.0. 44.2% and 43.7% of 824 community residents were willing to pay for the first two doses and the booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, respectively. Decision-makers were more willing to pay for both the first two doses and the boost dose of the COVID-19 vaccines, with OR (95%CI) being 1.75 (1.25-2.47) and 1.89 (1.34-2.67), respectively. Besides, participants' WTP for COVID-19 vaccines were also associated with their occupation and monthly household income. This study found that family decision-makers were more willing to pay for both the first two doses and the booster dose of COVID-19 vaccines in Taizhou, China. To improve the WTP for COVID-19 vaccines, public policy programs need to conduct a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis and focus on the role of family decision makers in vaccination. Key Messages A study evaluating the willingness of community residents to pay for booster vaccination of COVID-19 vaccine was conducted among families in a community in Taizhou, China. Family decision-makers were more willing to pay for both the first two doses and the booster dose of COVID-19 vaccines. To improve the WTP for COVID-19 vaccines, public policy programs need to conduct a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis and focus on the role of family decision-makers in vaccination.