Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Exposure to Misinformation, Risk Perception and Confidence towards the Government as Factors Influencing Negative Attitudes on COVID-19 Vaccination in Malaysia

Emma Mohamad
ORCID logo ,
Jen Sern Tham
ORCID logo ,
Siti Zaiton Mohd Ajis
,
Mohammad Rezal Hamzah
ORCID logo ,
Suffian Hadi Ayub
ORCID logo ,
Andi Muhammad Tri Sakti
ORCID logo ,
Arina Anis Azlan
* ORCID logo
Version 1 : Received: 30 September 2022 / Approved: 11 October 2022 / Online: 11 October 2022 (04:21:45 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Mohamad, E.; Tham, J.S.; Mohd Ajis, S.Z.; Hamzah, M.R.; Ayub, S.H.; Sakti, A.M.T.; Azlan, A.A. Exposure to Misinformation, Risk Perception, and Confidence towards the Government as Factors Influencing Negative Attitudes towards COVID-19 Vaccination in Malaysia. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 14623. Mohamad, E.; Tham, J.S.; Mohd Ajis, S.Z.; Hamzah, M.R.; Ayub, S.H.; Sakti, A.M.T.; Azlan, A.A. Exposure to Misinformation, Risk Perception, and Confidence towards the Government as Factors Influencing Negative Attitudes towards COVID-19 Vaccination in Malaysia. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 14623.

Abstract

Introduction: This study explores exposure to misinformation, COVID-19 risk perception, and confidence towards the government as predictors to negative attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out from 30 June to 30 August 2021 involving 775 respondents. The survey instrument for the questionnaire is an adaptation from various different studies consisting of five main variables: 1) misinformation about vaccination; 2) risk perception toward COVID-19; 3) attitudes toward the vaccination programme; 4) intention to get vaccinated; and 5) public confidence in the government in executing the vaccination programme. Results: The results of this study indicate that higher exposure to misinformation led to higher levels of negative attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine. When the perceived risk of COVID-19 infection was high, mistrust of vaccine benefits was low but there were also higher worries about the future effects of the vaccine. Confidence in government was associated with lower negative attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine. Conclusion: The results of this study may help develop an understanding of negative attitudes toward vaccinations in Malaysia and its contributing factors.

Keywords

COVID-19; vaccination; government; cross-sectional survey; perceived risk

Subject

Social Sciences, Government

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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