Characteristics of persons with varying vaccination personas: data from the CDC-funded PANDEMIC project

  • L. B. Cottler
  • , L. C. Rosales
  • , V. L. Seegulam
  • , L. Bilello
  • , C. L.W. Striley
  • , A. Ravenswood
  • , Z. J. Martusewicz
  • , C. E. Murphy
  • , M. Eder
  • , G. Mudd-Martin
  • , L. J. O’Neal
  • , J. Brown Speights
  • , C. Lopez-Quintero
  • , K. D. Everett
  • , A. H. Strelnick
  • , S. Aguilar-Gaxiola
  • , H. Kitzman
  • , J. A. McElroy
  • , T. A. Millay
  • , J. De Leon
  • L. Warneke, U. K. Weiss, C. O’Leary

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objectives: To examine characteristics of personas related to vaccination via a multi-state survey, to better inform strategies to address vaccine hesitancy, foster trust, and promote equitable health outcomes across diverse communities. Methods: Through a CDC-funded initiative, the University of Florida coordinated and participated with eight partner institutions to increase vaccination uptake and address vaccination hesitancy through trust-building. PANDEMIC (Program to Alleviate National Disparities in Ethnic and Minority Immunizations in the Community) developed an anonymous Survey of Perceptions (SoP), which assessed community perspectives on vaccination. Associations examined persona and gender, state where the interview was conducted, rurality, race/ethnicity, COVID-19 vaccination status, and trusted sources of vaccination information. Results: From September 18, 2023, to October 3, 2024, over 5,500 participants were surveyed through the SoP to assess general viewpoints on vaccination, with five personas characterized: Enthusiast (58.6%), Watchful (21.0%), Cost-Anxious (10.0%), Skeptic (6.2%), and System Distruster (4.2%). Group comparisons were made using the Kruskal–Wallis rank sum test for continuous variables, and Chi-square tests for categorical variables to assess associations between demographic characteristics and vaccination personas. Conclusions: Understanding vaccination personas and their predictors may provide a framework for designing targeted public health interventions. By addressing the distinct concerns and motivations of each persona, public health strategies promote equitable health outcomes and increase vaccine uptake across diverse populations.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number326
JournalDiscover public health
Volume22
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2025

Keywords

  • Community engagement
  • Vaccination personas
  • Vaccination status
  • Vaccine hesitancy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Characteristics of persons with varying vaccination personas: data from the CDC-funded PANDEMIC project'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this