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Table 3 Main reasons for vaccine hesitancy (n = 317)

From: Sociodemographic predictors of and main reasons for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in eastern Oslo: a cross-sectional study

Reasons for vaccine hesitancy

Yes

No

n (%)

Risk of side effects from the COVID-19 vaccines

177 (55.8)

140 (44.2)

There is too little experience with the use of the vaccines

159 (50.2)

158 (49.8)

I do not belong to any of the risk groups for severe COVID-19 disease

146 (46.1)

171 (53.9)

Do not need the vaccine: rarely/never sick, not in the target group, I tolerate the flu well and probably COVID-19 also

124 (39.1)

193 (60.9)

I want my body to develop natural immunity

93 (29.3)

224 (70.7)

Other

63 (19.9)

254 (80.1)

I do not trust the recommendations from the health authorities/municipality

46 (14.5)

271 (85.5)

I do not think that the COVID-19 vaccines work

44 (13.9)

273 (86.1)

There is little infection in society

35 (11.0)

282 (89.0)

General objections to vaccines: I am vaccine opponent, never taken vaccines, in principle, not comfortable with new vaccines, heard a lot of strange things, etc.

22 (6.9)

295 (93.1)

Media attention

22 (6.9)

295 (93.1)

Afraid of/do not like doctors/syringes

21 (6.6)

296 (93.4)

Do not need to protect myself

17 (5.4)

300 (94.6)

Do not need to protect family/community

13 (4.1)

304 (95.9)

I do not trust healthcare professionals

8 (2.5)

309 (97.5)

Religious reasons

4 (1.3)

313 (98.7)

  1. Note. One inconsistent respondent was not captured as hesitant in the variable on vaccine intention (n = 316) but was included in the variable on reasons against the COVID-19 vaccine. Hence, n = 317. This inconsistency did not influence any further results and was thus kept in the analysis