Waheed Amani, Abu Bakr Elsaid Noha M, Ghweeba Mayada, Elmaraghy Nermine, Al-Touny Shimaa A, Nemr Nader, Kishk Rania M, Aly Hebatalla M
Department of Public Health, Community, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.
Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, King Salman International University, South Sinai, Egypt.
J Egypt Public Health Assoc. 2022 Dec 12;97(1):25. doi: 10.1186/s42506-022-00122-4.
Coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine acceptance among healthcare workers (HCWs) plays a fundamental role in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccination acceptance depends on perceptions of competence and motives of the providers, producers, health professionals, and policymakers. This study aimed to identify the frequency and determinants of COVID-19 vaccine uptake acceptance, hesitancy, and barriers among HCWs.
A total of 500 HCWs from 3 different hospital affiliations in Ismailia Governorate, Egypt, were included in this mixed methods study. The study was conducted between March and April 2021 through two phases. Phase 1 included a cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire with inquiries about different determinants of vaccine acceptance, hesitancy, and barriers, which was completed either electronically in a Google form or a hard printed copy. Phase 2 included four focus group discussions to explore the determinants in depth.
The mean age of participants was 33.9 ± 7.9 years, 70% were females, 51.2% were nurses, and 28.6% were physicians. Of the 500 HCWs, only 27.8% accepted taking the vaccine immediately, 49.2% refused, and 23% were hesitant. Vaccine safety was the highest associated factor with vaccine acceptance (odds ratio (OR) = 6.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.132-12.619), followed by previous uptake of influenza vaccine (OR = 3.3, 95% CI 2.048-5.217) and vaccine effectiveness (OR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.282-5.262). The main barriers to vaccine acceptance were mistrust in governmental policies during the pandemic or in the healthcare facility they work in. Hesitancy was common among females and nurses and was attributed to three prominent factors, including safety concerns, negative stories, and personal knowledge.
The vaccine acceptance frequency among HCWs was considered low, as the majority either refused or was hesitant about taking the vaccine. Concerns about vaccine safety and effectiveness were significant determinants of vaccine acceptance. Factors related to trust were the main barriers to vaccine uptake. The health authority should establish a surveillance system for side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine and communicate this information between HCWs to decrease their worries about safety and increase vaccine uptake.
医护人员对2019冠状病毒病疫苗的接受程度在抗击新冠疫情中起着至关重要的作用。疫苗的接受程度取决于对提供者、生产商、卫生专业人员和政策制定者能力和动机的认知。本研究旨在确定医护人员中新冠疫苗接种的接受率、犹豫率及相关因素和障碍。
本混合方法研究纳入了埃及伊斯梅利亚省3家不同医院的500名医护人员。研究于2021年3月至4月分两个阶段进行。第一阶段为横断面研究，采用自填式问卷，询问疫苗接受、犹豫及障碍的不同相关因素，问卷可通过谷歌表格电子填写或打印纸质版填写。第二阶段包括4次焦点小组讨论，以深入探讨相关因素。
参与者的平均年龄为33.9±7.9岁，70%为女性，51.2%为护士，28.6%为医生。在500名医护人员中，只有27.8%的人立即接受接种疫苗，49.2%的人拒绝，23%的人犹豫不决。疫苗安全性是与疫苗接受度关联最高的因素（比值比（OR）=6.3，95%置信区间（CI）3.132 - 12.619），其次是既往接种流感疫苗（OR = 3.3，95%CI 2.048 - 5.217）和疫苗有效性（OR = 2.6，95%CI 1.282 - 5.262）。疫苗接受的主要障碍是对疫情期间政府政策或其工作的医疗机构不信任。犹豫不决在女性和护士中很常见，主要归因于三个突出因素，包括安全担忧、负面报道和个人认知。
医护人员的疫苗接受率较低，因为大多数人要么拒绝接种，要么对接种犹豫不决。对疫苗安全性和有效性的担忧是疫苗接受的重要决定因素。与信任相关的因素是疫苗接种的主要障碍。卫生当局应建立新冠疫苗副作用监测系统，并在医护人员之间传达此信息，以减少他们对安全性的担忧并提高疫苗接种率。
