Childhood factors and their impact on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in older adults across Europe

Objectives: This study investigates how childhood factors, including early vaccinations and socio-demographic variables, influence COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among older adults across Europe. Study Design: Longitudinal panel study using data from the SHARE survey across 27 European countries. Methods: We analyzed responses from 43,790 participants aged 50+ who took part in both the SHARELIFE (waves 3 or 7) and the second SHARE Corona Survey. Childhood factors examined included early vaccinations, socioeconomic status (SES), health, and cognition. Additional variables were region, sex, and birth cohort. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess associations between these factors and COVID-19 vaccine acceptance, adjusting for household wealth, chronic diseases, education, and household composition. Results: Overall, 84.9 % of participants reported accepting the COVID-19 vaccine. Childhood vaccinations were significantly associated with higher odds of vaccine acceptance (OR: 1.65, 95 % CI: 1.39–1.96). Females (OR: 0.92, 95 % CI: 0.86–0.99), younger cohorts (born after 1956: OR: 0.61, 95 % CI: 0.53–0.71), and individuals from disadvantaged childhood SES backgrounds (OR: 0.85, 95 % CI: 0.77–0.94), were less likely to accept the vaccine. Regional differences were evident, with Eastern Europe showing the lowest acceptance rates (OR: 0.34, 95 % CI: 0.31–0.38). Low childhood cognition was also associated with a lower vaccine acceptance (OR: 0.72, 95 % CI: 0.72–0.89). Conclusions: Childhood factors, including early vaccinations and socio-demographic variables, significantly influence COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in older Europeans. Interventions should focus on reducing disparities, enhancing trust in healthcare systems, and promoting early vaccination and parental engagement to foster long-term positive attitudes toward immunization.