Department of Internal Medicine, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
Department of Internal Medicine, Dow University Ojha Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
Front Public Health. 2022 Jun 30;10:911518. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.911518. eCollection 2022.
This study was conducted to evaluate COVID-19 vaccine booster dose willingness and identify predictors and factors of willingness and hesitance in the vaccinated population of Pakistan.
A cross-sectional web-based survey was undertaken between January and February 2022 to highlight the public perceptions regarding the COVID-19 booster dose and evaluate the willingness to get the additional dose. Demographic information and booster dose willingness were recorded through the questionnaire. Additionally, a 5-point Likert scale was employed to explore fears and beliefs regarding COVID-19 vaccinations. Univariate and multivariate regression was performed to identify booster dose willingness and hesitance factors.
Of the 787 respondents, 69.6% were females, 75.3% fell in the 18-30 years age group, 53.5% were university students or had a Bachelor's degree. Overall, a 77.8% booster dose willingness was reported. Participants showed absence or low fear levels associated with a booster dose (47.3%). 60.1% agreed it was safe to receive an additional vaccine dose, with 44.1% agreeing that boosters are effective against coronavirus variants. Independent predictors of willingness included the absence of comorbidities, whereas not being willing to pay for the booster dose was a predictor of hesitance.
This study showed a suboptimal willingness level of booster dose uptake among the vaccinated Pakistani population. Public health policymakers must undertake necessary awareness campaigns to strategize vaccination drives and dispel myths.
本研究旨在评估 COVID-19 疫苗加强针意愿，并确定巴基斯坦疫苗接种人群中加强针意愿和犹豫的预测因素和相关因素。
2022 年 1 月至 2 月期间进行了一项横断面网络调查，以强调公众对 COVID-19 加强针的看法，并评估接种额外剂量的意愿。通过问卷记录人口统计学信息和加强针接种意愿。此外，采用 5 点李克特量表来探讨对 COVID-19 疫苗接种的恐惧和信念。进行单变量和多变量回归分析以确定加强针接种意愿和犹豫的相关因素。
在 787 名受访者中，69.6%为女性，75.3%年龄在 18-30 岁之间，53.5%为大学生或拥有学士学位。总体而言，报告的加强针接种意愿为 77.8%。参与者对加强针表现出无恐惧或低恐惧水平（47.3%）。60.1%的人认为接种额外疫苗剂量是安全的，44.1%的人认为加强针可有效对抗冠状病毒变异体。意愿的独立预测因素包括无合并症，而不愿意支付加强针费用则是犹豫的预测因素。
本研究显示，巴基斯坦已接种疫苗人群中加强针接种意愿水平较低。公共卫生政策制定者必须开展必要的宣传活动，制定疫苗接种计划并消除误解。
