Developing and validating a culturally tailored questionnaire to assess COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Israel’s ultraorthodox Jewish population

Addressing vaccine hesitancy requires culturally adaptable tools. This study aimed to provide a better understanding of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Israel’s ultraorthodox Jewish community, where vaccine hesitancy is prevalent. We developed and validated a COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy questionnaire a...

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Main Authors: Imanuel Ber, Wasef Na’amnih, Saritte Perlman, Ben Kasstan, Yehuda Lerman, Khitam Muhsen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21645515.2024.2429233
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author Imanuel Ber
Wasef Na’amnih
Saritte Perlman
Ben Kasstan
Yehuda Lerman
Khitam Muhsen
author_facet Imanuel Ber
Wasef Na’amnih
Saritte Perlman
Ben Kasstan
Yehuda Lerman
Khitam Muhsen
author_sort Imanuel Ber
collection DOAJ
description Addressing vaccine hesitancy requires culturally adaptable tools. This study aimed to provide a better understanding of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Israel’s ultraorthodox Jewish community, where vaccine hesitancy is prevalent. We developed and validated a COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy questionnaire and explored correlates of intention to receive the fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in this population. A mixed-methods study employing an exploratory sequential design was conducted in May-September 2022. Building on qualitative data, a questionnaire was developed and validated in a cross-sectional study when the fourth dose was recommended to all adults. Thematic analysis identified several factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine decision-making, predominantly religious authority alongside health information sources, perceived vaccine safety, effectiveness, and trust in state authorities. In the cross-sectional study, 96/106 (90.6%) participants were vaccinated against COVID-19; 5.2%, 25.0%, 65.6%, and 4.2% received 1, 2, 3, and 4 doses, respectively. Intention to receive the fourth dose (yes/maybe) was reported by 46%. A factor analysis yielded several scales expressing perceptions regarding COVID-19, with Cronbach’s Alpha mostly between 0.689 and 0.887. Correlates of intention to receive the fourth dose were age ≥ 50 years: OR = 12.45 (95% CI 1.42–108.93), male-sex: 4.97 (1.47–16.81), perceiving the vaccine as important/effective and safe: 4.11 (1.29–13.13), utilizing ultraorthodox communication channels: 5.86 (1.58–21.73), and the number of previously received doses: 3.14 (1.31–7.53). Complementary evidence emphasized the role of religious authority and information sources (ultraorthodox communication channels) and balancing perceived vaccine safety and effectiveness and disease risk in COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Israel’s ultraorthodox Jewish population.
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spelling doaj-art-ecace1a5bf3d430588e55a7afe4902142025-08-20T02:16:44ZengTaylor & Francis GroupHuman Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics2164-55152164-554X2024-12-0120110.1080/21645515.2024.2429233Developing and validating a culturally tailored questionnaire to assess COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Israel’s ultraorthodox Jewish populationImanuel Ber0Wasef Na’amnih1Saritte Perlman2Ben Kasstan3Yehuda Lerman4Khitam Muhsen5Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-Yafo, IsraelDepartment of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-Yafo, IsraelDepartment of Health Policy and Management, Ben Gurion University, Beer Sheva, IsraelDepartment of Global Health & Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UKDepartment of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-Yafo, IsraelDepartment of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-Yafo, IsraelAddressing vaccine hesitancy requires culturally adaptable tools. This study aimed to provide a better understanding of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Israel’s ultraorthodox Jewish community, where vaccine hesitancy is prevalent. We developed and validated a COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy questionnaire and explored correlates of intention to receive the fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in this population. A mixed-methods study employing an exploratory sequential design was conducted in May-September 2022. Building on qualitative data, a questionnaire was developed and validated in a cross-sectional study when the fourth dose was recommended to all adults. Thematic analysis identified several factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine decision-making, predominantly religious authority alongside health information sources, perceived vaccine safety, effectiveness, and trust in state authorities. In the cross-sectional study, 96/106 (90.6%) participants were vaccinated against COVID-19; 5.2%, 25.0%, 65.6%, and 4.2% received 1, 2, 3, and 4 doses, respectively. Intention to receive the fourth dose (yes/maybe) was reported by 46%. A factor analysis yielded several scales expressing perceptions regarding COVID-19, with Cronbach’s Alpha mostly between 0.689 and 0.887. Correlates of intention to receive the fourth dose were age ≥ 50 years: OR = 12.45 (95% CI 1.42–108.93), male-sex: 4.97 (1.47–16.81), perceiving the vaccine as important/effective and safe: 4.11 (1.29–13.13), utilizing ultraorthodox communication channels: 5.86 (1.58–21.73), and the number of previously received doses: 3.14 (1.31–7.53). Complementary evidence emphasized the role of religious authority and information sources (ultraorthodox communication channels) and balancing perceived vaccine safety and effectiveness and disease risk in COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Israel’s ultraorthodox Jewish population.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21645515.2024.2429233COVID-19 vaccineSARS-CoV-2ultraorthodox Jewish population mixed methodsquestionnaire validationperceptionsfactor analysis
spellingShingle Imanuel Ber
Wasef Na’amnih
Saritte Perlman
Ben Kasstan
Yehuda Lerman
Khitam Muhsen
Developing and validating a culturally tailored questionnaire to assess COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Israel’s ultraorthodox Jewish population
Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics
COVID-19 vaccine
SARS-CoV-2
ultraorthodox Jewish population mixed methods
questionnaire validation
perceptions
factor analysis
title Developing and validating a culturally tailored questionnaire to assess COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Israel’s ultraorthodox Jewish population
title_full Developing and validating a culturally tailored questionnaire to assess COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Israel’s ultraorthodox Jewish population
title_fullStr Developing and validating a culturally tailored questionnaire to assess COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Israel’s ultraorthodox Jewish population
title_full_unstemmed Developing and validating a culturally tailored questionnaire to assess COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Israel’s ultraorthodox Jewish population
title_short Developing and validating a culturally tailored questionnaire to assess COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Israel’s ultraorthodox Jewish population
title_sort developing and validating a culturally tailored questionnaire to assess covid 19 vaccine hesitancy in israel s ultraorthodox jewish population
topic COVID-19 vaccine
SARS-CoV-2
ultraorthodox Jewish population mixed methods
questionnaire validation
perceptions
factor analysis
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21645515.2024.2429233
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