A survey of greater than 7,700 healthcare employees (HCWs) in 12 nations in 2022 and 2023 finds that respondents agreed that COVID-19 and influenza vaccines are protected, efficient, and helpful, but 1 in 5 reported reasonable or robust COVID vaccine hesitation.
For the examine, revealed in Public Well being, a group led by researchers from the World Federation of Public Well being Associations in Geneva surveyed 7,793 HCWs by the net platform SurveyMonkey from October 2022 to April 2023. Members had a median age of 44 years, and 68% have been girls. The 12 nations have been Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, america, and the UK.
The examine authors famous that vaccine reluctance was detected worldwide earlier than the pandemic, however the introduction of COVID-19 vaccines has considerably worsened the difficulty. “Reluctant HCWs not solely put their very own well-being and that of their sufferers in danger, but additionally undermine confidence in vaccines, resulting in decrease vaccination protection amongst sufferers and communities,” they wrote.
84% say COVID vaccine advantages outweigh dangers
Whereas HCWs agreed that the COVID-19 and flu vaccines have been protected (89%), efficient (92%), and helpful (92%), 21% mentioned they have been reasonably or strongly reluctant to obtain COVID vaccination. Variations by nation accounted for six% of worldwide variance in change in vaccine sentiment (ChVS) and hesitation to obtain COVID-19 vaccines (CoVH). Many individuals believed that pharmaceutical companies (67%) and public well being officers (64%) minimized the vaccines’ unwanted effects.
By way of COVID-19 vaccines, 89% of respondents had obtained three or 4 doses of COVID-19 vaccine, and 72% needed one other dose, if really helpful by well being officers.
In whole, 84% agreed that the advantages of the COVID-19 vaccine outweigh the dangers, and 88% mentioned the vaccine is efficient in lowering extreme illness. Whereas 80% indicated that youngsters and adolescents must be vaccinated towards COVID-19, solely 61% agreed with giving the vaccination to pregnant girls, and 66% would assist necessary COVID-19 vaccination for HCWs.
Total, 84% of individuals mentioned that it was essential for neighborhood/non secular/cultural leaders and conventional healers to strengthen optimistic messages about COVID-19 vaccination, and 92% believed that easy accessibility to the vaccination is vital to growing COVID-19 vaccination.
Relating to flu vaccination, 42% of HCWs have been vaccinated earlier than the pandemic, whereas 23% have been vaccinated some years, 55% have been vaccinated within the winter season earlier than the survey, and 57% deliberate to be vaccinated the subsequent winter.
In cross-tabulations of flu, 94% of HCWs have been vaccinated earlier than the pandemic and 90% of these vaccinated within the final winter additionally deliberate to be vaccinated the subsequent winter.
Components comparable to instructional attainment, worry of COVID-19 an infection, data of COVID-19 vaccines, CoVH degree, flu vaccination conduct, and normal confidence in vaccines have been vital influences on ChVS. Career, flu vaccination conduct, worry of COVID-19, and foremost data sources influenced CoVH.
Worry of unwanted effects, ready for extra information
“Typically, the COVID-19 pandemic appears not having influenced attitudes in direction of vaccination (76%); furthermore, it elevated confidence within the well being system of the nation of origin (64%) and in vaccine security (66%), with 73% stating that any further they might pay extra consideration to updating their vaccination schedule normally,” the researchers wrote.
There’s a want for tailor-made, nation-specific methods to deal with vaccine hesitancy and improve vaccine confidence amongst HCWs.
Requested about COVID-19 vaccine reluctance, 79% of HCWs thought-about themselves not hesitant, 9% reasonably hesitant, and 12% strongly hesitant. The most typical causes for COVID-19 uptake included the idea that they prevented an infection, wanting to guard themselves or household, working in a career with a excessive danger of an infection, and social accountability towards high-risk folks.
The most typical causes for COVID-19 refusal included have been worry of unwanted effects, having had COVID-19 prior to now and contemplating vaccination not mandatory, ready for additional efficacy and security trial information, believing they weren’t in danger for extreme COVID-19, and believing that COVID-19 was not a critical illness.
“Particular person elements performed a serious position in figuring out change in vaccine sentiment and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, however they are often modulated by different contextual parts on the nation degree,” the examine authors wrote. “There’s a want for tailor-made, nation-specific methods to deal with vaccine hesitancy and improve vaccine confidence amongst HCWs.”
