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Vaccine hesitancy has dramatically decreased the speed of vaccination and stalled global health development. While the factors influencing vaccine hesitancy and mitigation measures have been explored in depth by existing studies, research from the perspective of human interaction is lacking. Based on the theory of collective action, this paper analyzes how free riding behavior affects vaccine hesitancy and how the vaccine hesitancy caused by free riding behavior can be solved. Using 2,203 survey data sets from China, this paper examines the influence of the collective action dilemma – represented by free riding behavior – on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. The empirical results show that the existence of free riding behavior is an essential cause of vaccine hesitancy. Based on this conclusion, this paper discusses how to further alleviate the problem of vaccine hesitancy caused by collective action dilemmas by promoting cooperation. The findings of this paper may be helpful to promote various types of vaccines and further suggest that countries should assume the perspective of solving the collective action dilemma to achieve increased vaccination rates.

Many countries have initiated a booster dose for COVID-19 vaccination. However, little is known about the association between adverse events to vaccination and individual psychological status and willingness to receive the booster dose. From December 1, 2021 to February 1, 2022, 474 participants answered a questionnaire in a university town in China, and information about previous adverse events, anxiety status, and vaccination intention were collected. Chi-square test and logistic regression models were used to analyze the factors associated with willingness to receive booster dose of vaccine. Previous adverse events, such as pain at the injection site, fatigue, muscle pain and headache were associated with anxiety of the participants. About 76.2% of the participants were willing to receive booster dose of vaccine. However, adverse event was not associated with their willingness to receive the booster dose. Participants with age ≤25 were less willing to receive the booster dose, although the association was not statistically significant in the multivariable model. In conclusion, the adverse events of COVID-19 vaccination were associated with psychology status of the vaccinated people. It is still necessary to strengthen the public education on COVID-19 vaccination to improve the vaccination willingness of people, especially among the young people.