Abstract
ObjectivesEven though several effective vaccines are available to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, wide disparities in vaccine distribution, and vaccine acceptance rates between high- and low-income countries appear to be major threats toward achieving population immunity. Our global descriptive study aims to inform policymakers on factors affecting COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among healthcare workers (HCWs) in 12 countries, based on income index. We also looked for possible predictors of vaccine acceptance among the study sample.MethodsA structured questionnaire prepared after consultation with experts in the field and guided by the “Report of the SAGE working group on vaccine hesitancy” was administered among 2,953 HCWs. Upon obtaining informed consent, apart from demographic information, we collected information on trust in vaccines and health authorities, and agreement to accept a COVID-19 vaccine.ResultsAlthough 69% of the participants agreed to accept a vaccine, there was high heterogeneity in agreement between HCWs in low and lower-middle income countries (L-LMICs) and upper-middle- and high-income countries (UM-HICs), with acceptance rates of 62 and 75%, respectively. Potential predictors of vaccine acceptance included being male, 50 years of age or older, resident of an UM-HIC, updating self about COVID-19 vaccines, greater disease severity perception, greater anxiety of contracting COVID-19 and concern about side effects of vaccines.ConclusionsCOVID-19 vaccine acceptance among HCWs in L-LMICs was considerably low as compared to those from UM-HICs. The lowest vaccine acceptance rates were among HCWs from the African continent. This underlines the need for the implementation of country-specific vaccine promotion strategies, with special focus on increasing vaccine supply in L-LMICs.
Highlights
The SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 has been responsible for millions of deaths worldwide
Our study aims to fill this gap by comparing vaccine acceptance in a sample of six low and lower middle-income nations (L-lower-middleincome countries (LMICs)) and six upper middle income and high-income countries (UMHICs) with wide geographic coverage, spanning over Asia, Africa, Europe, and South America
Since healthcare workers (HCWs) could act as messengers to the general public in vaccine promotion, we found it appropriate to determine the predictors of vaccine acceptance among them
Summary
The SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 has been responsible for millions of deaths worldwide. Preventive measures have been able to limit mortality and morbidity, any laxity therein, or the introduction of new mutations have usually been shown to cause recurring waves of infections, many a times even more destructive than the first one [1]. Two pathways exist that could lead to population immunity, either through previous infection or through immunization. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), immunization programs prevent an estimated 2–3 million deaths every year globally [3]. Since aiming for population immunity to COVID-19 through previous infection could lead to excess mortality and morbidity, and a huge socioeconomic burden, especially as a consequence of the emerging mutations, the ideal strategy would be to attain it through mass immunization programs [1, 4]. Attaining global population immunity necessitates a two-pronged approach; combating vaccine hesitancy and promoting vaccine equality
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