The contribution of ICTs and telemedicine to COVID-19 vaccination: Evidence from the United States

Abstract

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Objectives This paper explores the influence of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and telemedicine on COVID-19 vaccination decisions in the United States. Method Leveraging survey data from nearly 4,000 respondents collected in 2021, we apply Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to analyze how factors such as vulnerability (measured as health status), ICT access and satisfaction with prior telemedicine experiences contribute to trust in telemedicine. This trust, in turn, shapes attitudes toward vaccination and ultimately influences vaccination decisions. Results Our results show that greater access to ICT enhances trust in telemedicine, leading to more positive attitudes towards vaccination and higher vaccination rates. However, these positive effects are not uniform across all population groups. Higher-income, older, and more educated individuals benefit significantly from telemedicine, while lower-income, younger, and less educated populations face barriers such as limited ICT access, economic constraints, and lower digital literacy, reducing the impact of telemedicine on their vaccination decisions. Conclusions The novelty of this study lies in its focus on the digital divide in healthcare, a relatively underexplored factor in vaccine hesitancy research. We provide new empirical evidence on the role of ICT and telemedicine in shaping health behaviors during a pandemic, emphasizing the need for targeted policies to address inequalities in digital access and healthcare. Policy interventions should aim to improve ICT infrastructure, promote digital literacy, and build trust in telemedicine, especially among disadvantaged groups, to ensure more equitable healthcare outcomes.