Public knowledge and attitudes toward respiratory syncytial virus vaccination in Hong Kong: a territory-wide...

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) represents a significant global health burden, particularly for high-risk groups such as children and older adults. This study aims to assess the willingness of the public in Hong Kong to receive a fully funded RSV vaccine and identify associated factors. An online survey was conducted in August 2024 across Hong Kong to gather territory-wide data on sociodemographic characteristics, constructs of the health belief model (HBM), knowledge about RSV, and the willingness to receive a fully funded RSV vaccine. A total of 2,099 respondents participated, with 1,356(64.6%) expressing a willingness to receive the fully funded RSV vaccine. Factors associated with a higher likelihood of vaccine willingness included higher perceived susceptibility, higher perceived severity, higher perceived benefit, higher cues to action, higher self-efficacy, lower perceived barriers, and did not receive government subsidies. Parallel mediation analysis revealed that knowledge about RSV significantly influenced vaccine willingness, with HBM constructs mediating 77.8% of this effect. All HBM constructs showed positive mediation effects, except for perceived barriers, which demonstrated a negative effect. Promotion on the knowledge about RSV may enhance acceptability of RSV vaccine. Multivariable regression revealed that government subsidy recipients were less likely to accept vaccination, while higher perceived barriers were associated with reduced willingness. The findings highlight the urgent need for targeted public health interventions and policies to enhance awareness and correct misconceptions about RSV, particularly its lack of specific antiviral treatments and the critical role of vaccination in prevention.