Public trust vaccine uptake and the infodemic among minority communities in israel
1
School of Public Health, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A3163
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
public trust in health authorities is a key determinant of vaccine uptake, particularly during health emergencies. during the COVID-19 pandemic, minority populations in israel, including haredi and arab communities, experienced high infection rates alongside relatively low vaccination uptake. the concurrent infodemic, characterized by widespread misinformation and conflicting health messages, further undermined trust and contributed to vaccine hesitancy, especially among younger age groups.
METHODS:
a mixed methods study was conducted. this abstract presents preliminary quantitative findings from a field survey carried out in 2024–2025 among N=203 participants, including 98 haredi and 105 arab respondents. the questionnaire assessed COVID-19 vaccination status including booster doses, trust in health institutions, exposure to conflicting information, age group, and key sources of influence such as religious leadership, healthcare professionals, and community organizations. descriptive analyses were performed with stratification by population group and age.
RESULTS:
in both populations, the largest vaccination gaps were observed among young adults aged 10–29, with vaccination rates approximately 30–50% lower than among older age groups. among haredi respondents, low uptake was also evident in the 30–50 age group, attributed to high prior infection rates, logistical barriers in large families, and low institutional trust. among arab respondents, vaccination rates among adults aged 60 and older were closer to national averages, but uptake declined sharply among younger cohorts, particularly young women. booster uptake was low across both populations, with recent vaccination primarily limited to individuals aged 65 and older or those in high-risk groups.
CONCLUSIONS:
preliminary findings indicate that vaccine hesitancy among minority populations is strongly shaped by age, trust structures, and infodemic exposure. culturally and age tailored communication strategies that leverage trusted community intermediaries are essential to improving vaccine uptake during health crises.
public trust in health authorities is a key determinant of vaccine uptake, particularly during health emergencies. during the COVID-19 pandemic, minority populations in israel, including haredi and arab communities, experienced high infection rates alongside relatively low vaccination uptake. the concurrent infodemic, characterized by widespread misinformation and conflicting health messages, further undermined trust and contributed to vaccine hesitancy, especially among younger age groups.
METHODS:
a mixed methods study was conducted. this abstract presents preliminary quantitative findings from a field survey carried out in 2024–2025 among N=203 participants, including 98 haredi and 105 arab respondents. the questionnaire assessed COVID-19 vaccination status including booster doses, trust in health institutions, exposure to conflicting information, age group, and key sources of influence such as religious leadership, healthcare professionals, and community organizations. descriptive analyses were performed with stratification by population group and age.
RESULTS:
in both populations, the largest vaccination gaps were observed among young adults aged 10–29, with vaccination rates approximately 30–50% lower than among older age groups. among haredi respondents, low uptake was also evident in the 30–50 age group, attributed to high prior infection rates, logistical barriers in large families, and low institutional trust. among arab respondents, vaccination rates among adults aged 60 and older were closer to national averages, but uptake declined sharply among younger cohorts, particularly young women. booster uptake was low across both populations, with recent vaccination primarily limited to individuals aged 65 and older or those in high-risk groups.
CONCLUSIONS:
preliminary findings indicate that vaccine hesitancy among minority populations is strongly shaped by age, trust structures, and infodemic exposure. culturally and age tailored communication strategies that leverage trusted community intermediaries are essential to improving vaccine uptake during health crises.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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