Objective   To examine the status and influencing factors of willing to participate in compensation insurance for adverse events following immunization (AEFI) among community residents in Zhejiang province.

  Methods  An online questionnaire survey was conducted among 1 530 urban/rural community residents covered by vaccination services of 22 immunization clinics selected with multistage random sampling in 11 prefectures/cities of Zhejiang province during October – December 2020.

  Results   Of the 1 528 participants with valid responses, 81.22%, 58.25%, and 56.02% reported the willingness to participate in the basic insurance, supplementary insurance scheme I (compensation additional to the basic insurance), and supplementary insurance scheme II (compensation for incidental symptoms caused by other reasons after vaccination and for ineffective vaccination) for AEFI, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the participants with following characteristics were more likely to have the willingness to participate the AEFI compensation insurance: with higher education (odds ratio OR = 1.74, 95% confidence interval CI: 1.51 – 2.01 for basic insurance; OR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.33 – 1.70 for supplementary insurance scheme I; and OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.26 – 1.60 for supplementary insurance scheme II), having personal experience of AEFI or with a relative/friend ever having experienced AEFI (OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.14 – 2.27 for basic insurance), and being aware of current compensation policy for AEFI (OR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.07 – 2.28 for basic insurance; OR = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.36 – 2.36 for supplementary insurance scheme I; OR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.45 – 2.50 for supplementary insurance scheme II); the results also revealed that being aware of knowledge about AEFI was a promotive factor for the willingness to participated in the supplementary insurance (OR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.06 – 1.64 for the scheme I and OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.03 – 1.59 for the scheme II).

  Conclusion  The willingness to participate in basic compensation insurance for AEFI is relatively high but that to participate in supplementary insurance is low among community residents in Zhejiang province, suggesting that the publicity of the knowledge about AEFI and relevant compensation policies need to be promoted in the population.