Table 3 Attitudes about COVID-19 and the associated willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccination (N = 865).

Belief that COVID-19 is more serious than influenza

Agree

635

92.7

406

65.3

Uncertain/disagree

50

7.3

22

45.8

χ² = 7.3, 1 df, p = 0.007

Perception to be at high risk of severe complications caused by COVID-19

Agree

564

82.3

355

64.5

Uncertain/disagree

121

17.7

73

60.8

χ² = 0.59, 1 df, p = 0.443

Belief that, even if necessary, they would prefer avoiding to go to the hospital due to the fear of contracting COVID-19

Agree

223

32.5

128

59

Uncertain/disagree

462

67.5

300

66.2

χ² = 3.33, 1 df, p = 0.068

Perception to be at risk of developing COVID-19

Agree

265

38.7

164

63.6

Uncertain/disagree

420

61.3

264

64.1

χ² = 0.02, 1 df, p = 0.893

Belief that COVID-19 could cause serious consequences in their prison institution

Agree

585

85.4

366

63.9

Uncertain/disagree

100

14.6

62

63.9

χ² = 0.0001, 1 df, p = 0.993

Belief that COVID-19 will continue to spread in Italy

Agree

430

62.8

247

59.1

Uncertain/disagree

255

37.2

181

71.8

χ² = 11.05, 1 df, p = 0.001

Self-confidence about ability to protect oneself from SARS-CoV-2 infection

Agree

155

22.6

109

71.7

Uncertain/disagree

530

77.4

319

61.6

χ² = 5.22, 1 df, p = 0.022

Physicians^a

Yes

114

16.9

76

69.7

No

561

83.1

347

62.9

χ² = 1.86, 1 df, p = 0.173

Media and newspaper^a

Yes

638

94.5

401

64.2

No

37

5.5

22

61.1

χ² = 0.14, 1 df, p = 0.711

Family and friends^a

Yes

236

35

162

71

No

439

65

261

60.3

χ² = 7.53, 1 df, p = 0.006

Prisoners involved in a prison education program^a

Yes

34

5.2

22

68.7

No

623

94.8

389

63.7

χ² = 0.34, 1 df, p = 0.559

Need of additional information about COVID-19

Yes

506

75.6

315

63.8

No

163

24.4

104

64.6

χ² = 0.04, 1 df, p = 0.849