Social media use is associated with lower COVID-19 booster uptake in Japan

Few studies have specifically examined the relationship between social media use and uptake of COVID-19 booster. This study examined the association between social media use and COVID-19 booster vaccination uptake in Japan during the pandemic.

A series of cross-sectional surveys was conducted using rapid online questionnaires among residents of Iwate Prefecture, Japan, from October 1 to 3, 2021, and from December 11 to 17, 2023 (n = 4,026). Vaccination status was assessed using a single question: "What is your vaccination status?". Respondents were categorized into two groups: individuals with incomplete booster uptake (those who had received one or two doses; n = 226) and booster acceptors (those who had received at least three doses; n = 3,800). Social media use was defined as self-reported use of Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or other social networking services. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the association between social media use and receipt of a COVID-19 booster vaccination.

Social media use was significantly associated with higher odds of incomplete booster uptake of COVID-19 vaccination. This association remained statistically significant after adjustment for relevant covariates (odds ratio [OR] 1.70, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.21-2.39). Individuals with a history of COVID-19 infection prior to the initiation of booster vaccinations were less likely to receive a booster dose in an exploratory analysis (OR 3.06, 95% CI 1.28-7.32).

Differential associations between media use and COVID-19 booster uptake may provide important insights for designing effective communication strategies to improve vaccine acceptance in future pandemics.