AUTHOR=Lan Yaxin , Jin Lei 

TITLE=Heritage and hesitancy: how preference for traditional Chinese medicine influences vaccine attitudes

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1355720

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2024.1355720

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=Vaccine hesitancy is a significant public health concern exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) offers a novel lens for examining this issue. This study investigates the impact of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) preferences on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in China, considering the influence of healthcare system satisfaction and the mediating role of epistemological beliefs. Using data from the 2021 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS), our findings confirm a robust association between TCM preference and vaccine hesitancy among the Chinese population, unaffected by socioeconomic and demographic factors or healthcare system trust dynamics. Interestingly, TCM enthusiasts do not demonstrate vaccine hesitancy based on differing epistemological views from biomedicine regarding vaccine risks and immunity acquisition. This research deepens understanding of the complex interplay between therapeutic paradigms and vaccine attitudes, prompting further exploration of CAM's role in shaping vaccination behaviors across diverse contexts. These insights underscore the need for culturally sensitive strategies to enhance vaccine acceptance and coverage, particularly among populations influenced by TCM practices.