Shakeel Sadia, Nesar Shagufta, Nizami Ghazala Noor, Iqbal Zafar, Emad Shaista, Wasim Quratulain, Mumtaz Tayyaba, Jamshed Shazia, Usmani Muhammad Salahuddin, Hussain Rabia
Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dow College of Pharmacy, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi 74200, Pakistan.
Jinnah College of Pharmacy, Sohail University, Karachi 74000, Pakistan.
Vaccines (Basel). 2022 Aug 2;10(8):1236. doi: 10.3390/vaccines10081236.
Global health authorities have emphasized the vital role of healthcare professionals (HCPs) as a reliable source of vaccination information for patients in primary care. However, HCPs are concerned whether COVID-19 vaccinations can be used off-label. Hence, the current study was conducted to assess their perspectives towards off-label COVID-19 immunization in children. The study tool, consisting of 40 items, was utilized to evaluate HCPs' knowledge and attitudes towards the off-label use of the COVID-19 vaccine in children under 12 years of age. To assess the unfavorable attitudes regarding vaccinations, the Vaccination Attitudes Examination Scale was employed. Overall, 477 completed questionnaires were incorporated in the present study, with a response rate of 88.9%. The mean age of the respondents was 38.6 ± 7.5 years; among whom the majority were physicians, = 209 (43.8%), and pharmacists, = 112 (23.4%). Approximately 78% of the respondents had a general awareness of off-label vaccination. Around 80% knew the adverse drug reactions associated with the use of COVID-19 vaccines. Females showed more mistrust about vaccine benefits, = 55 (16.9%), compared to males, = 21 (13.8%), and concerns about commercial profits of vaccines, = 59 (18.1%), compared to males, = 19 (12.5%). By profession, physicians showed statistically significantly lower mistrust, = 18 (8.6%), and higher concerns about unpredicted effects of vaccines, = 41 (19.6%). A major portion of the respondents, = 327 (68.5%), did not consider that HCPs should prescribe/administer off-label COVID-19 vaccination in children. The current findings demonstrated that respondents had an appropriate level of understanding about COVID-19 immunization in children. They showed higher levels of rejection for off-label use of the COVID-19 vaccination.
全球卫生当局强调了医护人员作为基层医疗中患者可靠疫苗接种信息来源的重要作用。然而，医护人员担心新冠疫苗是否可用于非标签用途。因此，开展了本研究以评估他们对儿童非标签新冠免疫接种的看法。该研究工具由40个项目组成，用于评估医护人员对12岁以下儿童非标签使用新冠疫苗的知识和态度。为评估对疫苗接种的负面态度，采用了疫苗接种态度检查量表。总体而言，本研究纳入了477份完整问卷，回复率为88.9%。受访者的平均年龄为38.6±7.5岁；其中大多数是医生，n = 209（43.8%），以及药剂师，n = 112（23.4%）。约78%的受访者对非标签疫苗接种有一般了解。约80%的人知道与使用新冠疫苗相关的药物不良反应。与男性（n = 21，13.8%）相比，女性对疫苗益处表现出更多不信任，n = 55（16.9%），并且与男性（n = 19，12.5%）相比，对疫苗商业利润更担忧，n = 59（18.1%）。按职业划分，医生表现出统计学上显著更低的不信任，n = 18（8.6%），以及对疫苗意外效果更高的担忧，n = 41（19.6%）。大部分受访者，n = 327（68.5%），认为医护人员不应为儿童开具/实施非标签新冠疫苗接种。当前研究结果表明，受访者对儿童新冠免疫接种有适当程度的理解。他们对非标签使用新冠疫苗表现出更高程度的拒绝。
