Skeptical Health Mavens May Limit COVID-19 Vaccine Diffusion: Using the Innovation Diffusion Cycle to Interpret Results of a Cross-sectional Survey among People Who are Socially Vulnerable

• DOI: 10.1080/10810730.2022.2111619
• Publication Date: 2022-08-19T10:27:51Z
• Authors: Rachel A. Smith; Curtis Bone; Ashley Visco; William A. Calo; Jessica Wright; Destin Groff; Robert P. Lennon
• Keywords: Diffusion of innovations

We sought to identify barriers COVID-19 vaccine uptake among persons who are socially vulnerable in light of the natural cycle innovation diffusion. Widespread adoption a health requires cadre opinion leaders build on successes experienced by early adopters. One type leader healthcare mavens: members community maintain up-to-date knowledge and share their others. surveyed 139 regarding vaccination intention, evaluated responses based psychological traits captured two scales: innovativeness mavenism. Health mavenism was not strongly correlated with intention. mavens often relied own providers (n = 46) agency websites 42) for information. Those faith 4) reported lower likelihood getting vaccinated (31.5% vs. 76.0%, p < .05). The observed lack support represents critical barrier uptake; targeting campaigns may increase communities.