Term of Award

Spring 2024

Degree Name

Doctor of Public Health (Dr.P.H.)

Document Type and Release Option

Dissertation (open access)

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Department

Department of Health Policy and Community Health

Committee Chair

Gulzar Shah

Committee Member 1

Ho-jui Tung

Committee Member 2

Helen Bland

Abstract

Background: Although vaccination is one of the greatest accomplishments in public health, some people, especially older adults, are reluctant to take vaccines. This study examined the association between the social and structural determinants of health and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among older adults in the United States.

Methods: Secondary data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) was used. The HRS participants were 65 years and older, and the sample size was 2311. Multinomial multivariable logistic regression models were conducted for this study.

Results: The study shows that social determinants of health (marital status, educational level) and structural determinants of health (religiosity) were associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among older adults in the United States. Intrapersonal level (sociodemographic factors and perceived risk of disease such as comorbidities, vaccine concern, and history of flu vaccination) and interpersonal level (marital status and awareness of death from family) were associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among older adults in the United States.

Conclusion: The study shows that addressing certain factors within the social and structural determinants of health may reduce the impact of vaccine hesitancy among older adults.

Research Data and Supplementary Material

No

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