The role of social value orientation in modulating vaccine uptake in the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study

COVID-19 vaccination is the only pharmaceutical measure available to control the pandemic and move past the current crisis. As such, the Maldives, a small island country, invested heavily on securing and vaccinating the eligible population through an intensive risk communication campaign to create awareness on vaccination benefits. This paper reports on the vaccine coverage after a year of COVID-19 vaccine being introduced into the country, based on data obtained from the Values in Crisis Survey – Wave Two among Maldivian adults (n = 497). The findings show a vaccine coverage of 94%, with only 2.2% of the respondents indicating they will not get vaccinated. No significant differences were observed by age, gender, income earning, educational status or residential area. No significant relationship was observed in vaccine behaviour and confidence in government, health sector and experts. Social value orientations, particularly conservation and self-transcendence value orientations determined positive vaccine behaviour (r(s) = 0.180, p < 0.01 and 0.136 p < 0.01 respectively), yet conservation was the only predictor that contributed significantly to the regression model (B = 0.158, p < 0.01). The findings indicate that, despite the uncertainties around COVID-19 vaccinations, the prosocial value orientations were instrumental in achieving a high COVID-19 vaccine coverage. Further theoretical and conceptual exploration of vaccine behaviour in crisis situations is needed to inform future pandemic situations. The vaccination rollout and behaviour change strategies also need an examination of social value orientations in order to achieve a high coverage and sustain pro-vaccine behaviour post-pandemic.