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Behavioral Sciences
Volume 15
Issue 9
10.3390/bs15091175
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Article

The Evolution of Monkeypox Vaccination Acceptance in Romania: A Comparative Analysis (2022–2025), Psychosocial Perceptions, and the Impact of Anti-Vaccination Rhetoric on Societal Security

by
Cătălin Peptan
1,
Flavius Cristian Mărcău
1,
Olivia-Roxana Alecsoiu
1,
Dragos Mihai Panagoret
2,
Marian Emanuel Cojoaca
3,
Alina Magdalena Musetescu
4,5,*,
Genu Alexandru Căruntu
6,
Alina Georgiana Holt
1,
Ramona Mihaela Nedelcuță
7 and
Victor Gheorman
8,9
1
Faculty of Educational Sciences, Law and Public Administration, “Constantin Brâncuși” University of Târgu Jiu, 210185 Târgu Jiu, Romania
2
Faculty of Science and Engineering Alexandria—Valahia University of Târgoviște, 140003 Alexandria, Romania
3
National Health Insurance House (CNAS), Titu Maiorescu University, 040051 Bucharest, Romania
4
Victor Babeș Hospital for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, 030303 Bucharest, Romania
5
Faculty of Medicine, Titu Maiorescu University, 040051 Bucharest, Romania
6
Faculty of Economics, “Constantin Brâncuși” University of Târgu Jiu, 210185 Târgu Jiu, Romania
7
Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
8
Department of Psychiatry, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
9
Department of Psychiatry I, Craiova Clinical Neuropsychiatry Hospital, 200473 Craiova, Romania
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(9), 1175; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15091175
Submission received: 28 June 2025 / Revised: 9 August 2025 / Accepted: 26 August 2025 / Published: 29 August 2025
Versions Notes

Abstract

This study examines the evolution of willingness to accept the monkeypox (Mpox) vaccine in Romania between 2022 and 2025. It explores key sociodemographic and behavioral predictors of vaccine acceptance and investigates how public perceptions—particularly concerning disease severity and conspiracy beliefs—have shifted across two independent cross-sectional samples. Two nationally distributed surveys were conducted in July 2022 (n = 820) and January–February 2025 (n = 1029), targeting Romanian residents aged 18 and above. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, Kolmogorov–Smirnov tests, and a Random Forest classification model to assess the relative importance of predictors of vaccine acceptance. Between 2022 and 2025, vaccine acceptance increased modestly, particularly among individuals aged 36–65 and those with prior experience of voluntary or COVID-19 vaccination. Random Forest analysis identified behavioral factors as the strongest predictors of acceptance in both years, while the influence of education and gender varied over time. Belief in conspiracy theories slightly declined and lost predictive relevance by 2025. Perceptions of pandemic potential and fear of infection also decreased, suggesting reduced risk salience and possible pandemic fatigue. Despite a slight upward trend, overall Mpox vaccine acceptance in Romania remains among the lowest in Europe. These findings highlight the need for targeted public health communication, particularly toward skeptical or demographically vulnerable groups. Prior vaccination behavior emerged as a key driver of acceptance, indicating that trust-building strategies should capitalize on existing pro-vaccination habits. Future research should adopt qualitative and longitudinal approaches to better capture the evolving psychosocial dynamics of vaccine hesitancy.
Keywords: monkeypox; vaccine; hesitancy; societal security; fake news; Romania monkeypox; vaccine; hesitancy; societal security; fake news; Romania

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Peptan, C.; Mărcău, F.C.; Alecsoiu, O.-R.; Panagoret, D.M.; Cojoaca, M.E.; Musetescu, A.M.; Căruntu, G.A.; Holt, A.G.; Nedelcuță, R.M.; Gheorman, V. The Evolution of Monkeypox Vaccination Acceptance in Romania: A Comparative Analysis (2022–2025), Psychosocial Perceptions, and the Impact of Anti-Vaccination Rhetoric on Societal Security. Behav. Sci. 2025, 15, 1175. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15091175

AMA Style

Peptan C, Mărcău FC, Alecsoiu O-R, Panagoret DM, Cojoaca ME, Musetescu AM, Căruntu GA, Holt AG, Nedelcuță RM, Gheorman V. The Evolution of Monkeypox Vaccination Acceptance in Romania: A Comparative Analysis (2022–2025), Psychosocial Perceptions, and the Impact of Anti-Vaccination Rhetoric on Societal Security. Behavioral Sciences. 2025; 15(9):1175. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15091175

Chicago/Turabian Style

Peptan, Cătălin, Flavius Cristian Mărcău, Olivia-Roxana Alecsoiu, Dragos Mihai Panagoret, Marian Emanuel Cojoaca, Alina Magdalena Musetescu, Genu Alexandru Căruntu, Alina Georgiana Holt, Ramona Mihaela Nedelcuță, and Victor Gheorman. 2025. "The Evolution of Monkeypox Vaccination Acceptance in Romania: A Comparative Analysis (2022–2025), Psychosocial Perceptions, and the Impact of Anti-Vaccination Rhetoric on Societal Security" Behavioral Sciences 15, no. 9: 1175. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15091175

APA Style

Peptan, C., Mărcău, F. C., Alecsoiu, O.-R., Panagoret, D. M., Cojoaca, M. E., Musetescu, A. M., Căruntu, G. A., Holt, A. G., Nedelcuță, R. M., & Gheorman, V. (2025). The Evolution of Monkeypox Vaccination Acceptance in Romania: A Comparative Analysis (2022–2025), Psychosocial Perceptions, and the Impact of Anti-Vaccination Rhetoric on Societal Security. Behavioral Sciences, 15(9), 1175. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15091175

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