Predictors of willingness to receive updated 2023–2024 COVID-19 booster vaccines among a convenience sample in Minnesota

Objectives: To determine factors associated with intention to receive recommended COVID-19 booster vaccines in 2023–2024. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 1,256 individuals at Minnesota State and County fairs was conducted to assess their intention to receive a COVID-19 booster vaccine in the coming year if recommended. The association between booster intention and multiple factors believed to influence willingness to receive the vaccine, including perceived vaccine safety, perceived risk of COVID-19, public health knowledge, fear of future pandemics, and political affiliation, were analyzed using ordinal logistic regression and adjusted odds ratios (aOR). Results: Intention to receive a COVID-19 booster vaccine was high among our participants with 56% reporting they were extremely likely to receive the vaccine this year and another 15% reporting that they were likely to do the same. A strong association with getting a booster vaccine was found between perceived vaccine safety (aOR: 15.3, 95% CI: 10.6–22.2), perceived COVID-19 risk (aOR: 3.5, 95% CI: 2.4–5.1), pandemic fear (aOR: 3.4, 95% CI: 2.4–4.8), public health knowledge (aOR: 1.3, 95% CI: 0.9–1.8), and democrat political affiliation (aOR: 2.8, 95%CI: 1.8–4.4). Conclusions: Our study emphasizes the importance of perceived vaccine safety as a predictor of intention to accept COVID-19 vaccines and highlights the continued need to effectively communicate with the public about the safety of vaccines.