Understanding the Factors That May Influence African American MSM’s Acceptance of a Theoretical HIV Vaccine

An HIV vaccine is crucial for African American men who have sex with men (MSM) as they are disproportionately impacted by HIV in the United States. Successful vaccine uptake at levels sufficient to protect individuals and reduce transmission requires more than developing an effective HIV vaccine—it necessitates a strong intention to get vaccinated. Understanding the perceptions, attitudes, and concerns surrounding HIV vaccination among African American MSM is essential for healthcare providers and stakeholders to communicate and promote vaccine adoption effectively. Using the Health Belief Model and Extended Parallel Processing Model, the study sought to identify factors that would encourage vaccination among HIV vaccine procrastinators—individuals likely to delay getting the vaccine for more than a year—to uptake a hypothetical HIV vaccine. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 432 African American MSM, 18–64 years, residing in the United States. Multivariable logistic regression analysis examined factors influencing the intention to enhance vaccination among HIV vaccine procrastinators who are at risk for HIV. Vaccine procrastinators are more likely to be older, have a greater fear of HIV stigma, perceive low discrimination when receiving HIV prevention support due to their African American MSM identity, do not use PrEP, and have more significant concerns about vaccine safety compared to non-vaccine procrastinators. The absence of understanding HIV vaccine perceptions represents a missed opportunity to inform and guide healthcare providers and policymakers once an HIV vaccine becomes available.