Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Hesitancy and Digital Literacy: Evidence from the European countries

TL;DR

This study explores how digital literacy influences influenza vaccination rates among older Europeans, finding that higher computer skills are positively associated with vaccine uptake, but pandemic-driven behavioral changes are not significant.

Contribution

It provides empirical evidence linking digital literacy to vaccination behavior among older adults in Europe, highlighting the role of computer skills in health decisions.

Findings

Positive association between digital literacy and vaccination uptake

No significant behavioral change due to pandemic experience

Higher pre-pandemic computer skills linked to increased vaccination

Abstract

This study documents the relationship between computer skills/digital literacy and influenza vaccination take-up among older adults in Europe during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Using data from the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe, we find a positive partial association between influenza vaccination take-up and two indicators of computer skills/digital literacy, self-assessed pre-pandemic computer skills and having used a computer at work in any pre-pandemic job. We do not estimate significant behavioural changes for individuals with better computer skills that may have been driven by spillover effects from the pandemic experience.