The article titled "The roots of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy: evidence from Hungary", written by András Bíró-Nagy and Áron József Szászi is now available in the Journal of Behavioural Medicine. 

The article explores the determinants of vaccine hesitancy during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary,  utilizing data from in-person public opinion research conducted in Hungary (March 2021, N = 1000). 

The authors find that while government supporters, older people (60 +) and COVID-19 survivors were initially more likely to accept vaccination, these variables lost their significance once controlling for personal fears and pandemic-related attitudes. They have also found that COVID-19 related fears and precautious behavior reduce, while general level of fears increase the probability of vaccine hesitancy, and that the fear of partner’s aggression and higher levels of financial security negatively correlate with vaccine hesitancy.

The study separately analyzes the effect of various pandemic-related conspiratorial beliefs on vaccine hesitancy. The authors conclude that all analyzed false beliefs have a significant positive effect on vaccine hesitancy, but the strongest predictors are vaccine-related conspiracy theories (“microchip” and “population control” theories) and virus denial.

The article can be accessed here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10865-022-00314-5