[Vaccination behaviour of immigrants and native Icelanders during COVID-19]

This article examines the COVID-19 vaccination behaviour of immigrants in Iceland by comparing it to the behaviour of native Icelanders. Little to no information has previously been available on this subject in Iceland. However, mapping the situation is an important prerequisite for guiding further research in this field, as well as providing insight into whether and to what extent vaccine hesitancy among immigrants constitutes a public health issue in Iceland.

The data used in this analysis come from the fifth round of the Directorate of Health's survey Health and Well-being, conducted in 2022. The survey was a sample survey, and in this round, the sample was expanded to include both native Icelanders and a sample drawn from the population of foreign nationals aged 18 and older who had resided in Iceland for three years prior to the survey.

The results show a significant difference in vaccination behaviour between native Icelanders and immigrants, particularly among immigrants from Central and Eastern Europe. Only 32% of Polish immigrants and 43% of other immigrants from Central and Eastern Europe received three doses of the vaccine, compared to 73% of Icelanders. Trust in the Directorate of Health, economic status, and social participation predict vaccination behaviour, whereas trust in the media or the healthcare system as a whole does not.

Greater emphasis should be placed on strengthening trust in vaccination authorities, such as the Directorate of Health and the Chief Epidemiologist. Additionally, economic status and social participation of specific groups should be considered to effectively influence the vaccination behaviour of immigrants.