Avoidance of the Threats of Defective Vaccines: How a Vaccine Scandal Influences Parents’ Protective Behavioral Response

This study examined the key factors underlying parents' protective responses to avoid the threats of defective vaccines. We constructed a hypothetical model to explore this issue based on the protective action decision model and risk information perspective. A questionnaire survey involving 584 respondents was conducted in Anhui and Jiangsu provinces, China, after the 2018 vaccine scandal broke. The results indicate that perceived vaccine knowledge is a vital determinant of perceived negative publicity, information forwarding, risk perception, and systematic processing. Moreover, perceived negative publicity significantly predicts information forwarding and risk perception. Perceived negative publicity and information forwarding both positively influence systematic processing. Furthermore, parents' protective responses are motivated by risk perception but fail to be stimulated by systematic processing.