Attitude Towards COVID-19 Vaccination among Nurses Working in UAE

Abstract

Background: The world is in the midst of a COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 vaccine has been framed as the ultimate solution needed to end the pandemic. Its success has been challenged by individuals who choose to delay or refuse vaccines. Healthcare professional’s intention to use and to recommend the vaccine to their patients is pivotal to the uptake of vaccines by the public and the success of vaccination campaigns, this mater highly depends on their acceptability of vaccines and attitudes towards it in the first place. Objectives: The study assessed the acceptability of and the attitude towards COVID-19 vaccine among nurses in UAE hospitals. The study also identified the reasons for COVID-19 vaccination rejection and the association between vaccination acceptability and selected variables like gender, years of experience and presence of comorbidities. Study design: Cross sectional design. Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination and the attitude towards COVID-19 vaccination was assessed using pre-validated checklist among nurses in various hospitals across UAE. Results: Among 607 nurses, despite the availability of COVID-19 vaccines, only approximately 79 % of the nurses in the current study accepted to get COVID-19 vaccines. Also, only 36.7% of the nurses who participated in the study had positive attitude towards COVID-19 vaccination during the study period (February – April 2021). Conclusion: While healthcare professionals are expected to practice based on scientific evidence and guide their patients accordingly, proportion of them seems to be affected by misleading non-scientific social media information. Correction measures such as scientific educational programs Should be implemented to re educate healthcare professionals about the importance of following and practicing in an evidence informed approach.