AlKetbi Latifa Mohammad Baynouna, Elharake Jad A, Memari Shammah Al, Mazrouei Shereena Al, Shehhi Badreyya Al, Malik Amyn A, McFadden SarahAnn M, Galal Bayan, Yildirim Inci, Khoshnood Kaveh, Omer Saad B, Memish Ziad A, AlZarouni Amal A, AlNeyadi Amna M, Hosani Farida Al
Academic Affairs Department, Ambulatory Healthcare Services, Abu Dhabi Healthcare Services, Al Ain, UAE.
Yale Institute for Global Health, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA.
IJID Reg. 2021 Dec;1:20-26. doi: 10.1016/j.ijregi.2021.08.003. Epub 2021 Sep 13.
COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers (HCWs) is a threat to any healthcare system. Vaccine hesitancy can increase infection risk among HCWs and patients, while also impacting the patients' decision to accept the vaccine. Our study assessed COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among HCWs in United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Using purposive sampling, UAE HCWs registered in the Abu Dhabi Department of Health (DOH) email database were invited to complete an online questionnaire, between November 2020 and February 2021, to understand COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy, and trust in sources of information. Simple logistic regression was used to assess the associations between demographic factors with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance.
Of the 2832 HCWs who participated in the study, 1963 (69.9%) were aged between 25 and 44 years and 1748 (61.7%) were females. Overall, 2525 (89.2%) of the HCW population said they would accept a COVID-19 vaccine. HCWs who were 55+ years of age, male, and physicians/surgeons were more likely to accept a COVID-19 vaccine (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.5-6.2, = 0.002; OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.3-2.4, < 0.001; and OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1-2.9; = 0.01, respectively). The most reliable sources for COVID-19 vaccine information were the UAE government (91.6%), healthcare providers (86.8%), health officials (86.3%), and the World Health Organization (WHO; 81.1%).
COVID-19 vaccine acceptance was high among the UAE HCW population. Several factors were identified as significant determinants of vaccine acceptance. UAE healthcare authorities can utilize these findings to develop public health messaging campaigns for HCWs to best address COVID-19 vaccine concerns - particularly when the government is vaccinating its general population.
医护人员对新冠疫苗的犹豫态度对任何医疗系统都是一种威胁。疫苗犹豫会增加医护人员和患者的感染风险，同时也会影响患者接受疫苗的决定。我们的研究评估了阿拉伯联合酋长国（阿联酋）医护人员对新冠疫苗的接受情况。
采用目的抽样法，在2020年11月至2021年2月期间，邀请在阿布扎比卫生部（DOH）电子邮件数据库中注册的阿联酋医护人员完成一份在线问卷，以了解他们对新冠疫苗的接受程度和犹豫情况，以及对信息来源的信任度。使用简单逻辑回归分析评估人口统计学因素与新冠疫苗接受情况之间的关联。
在参与研究的2832名医护人员中，1963名（69.9%）年龄在25至44岁之间，1748名（61.7%）为女性。总体而言，89.2%的医护人员表示他们会接受新冠疫苗。55岁及以上的医护人员、男性以及内科医生/外科医生更有可能接受新冠疫苗（优势比分别为3.1，95%置信区间1.5 - 6.2，P = 0.002；优势比1.8，95%置信区间1.3 - 2.4，P < 0.001；优势比1.8，95%置信区间1.1 - 2.9；P = 0.01）。新冠疫苗信息最可靠的来源是阿联酋政府（91.6%）、医疗服务提供者（86.8%）、卫生官员（86.3%）和世界卫生组织（81.1%）。
阿联酋医护人员对新冠疫苗的接受度较高。确定了几个因素是疫苗接受度的重要决定因素。阿联酋卫生当局可以利用这些研究结果，为医护人员开展公共卫生宣传活动，以最好地解决他们对新冠疫苗的担忧——尤其是在政府为普通民众接种疫苗时。
