COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy among patients admitted to the immunology and allergy clinic with drug allergies

Abstract

The aim of our study was to determine the factors responsible for COVID-19 vaccination acceptance and hesitancy in patients with drug allergies. We prepared a survey to understand the thoughts, hesitancies and experiences about COVID-19 vaccination and COVID-19 infection in patients with drug allergies and statistically examined the results. A survey study was applied to 76 patients who were admitted to Ankara University Internal Medicine Allergy and Immunology Department with drug allergies. 38 patients who were vaccinated and 38 patients who weren’t were compared. Among the 38 patients who were vaccinated, 34 (89.5%) chose Biontech vaccine, 4 (10.5%) chose Sinovac vaccine. Among the patients who weren’t vaccinated, 28 (73.7%) explained they weren’t vaccinatedbecause of drug allergies. Educational statuses were statistically significantly different (p=0.026) among vaccinated and non-vaccinated patients, lower in vaccinated patients. Vaccinated patients thought the vaccine reduced the possibility of COVID-19 infection and complications, which was significantly different (p<0.01). Non-vaccinated group significantly feared the possible allergic reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine, more than the vaccinated group (p=0.028). Fear of the possible side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine (p<0.001) and the thought of the COVID-19 vaccine being associated with unpredictable effects were significantly more evident in the non-vaccinated group (p<0.001). In conclusion, our study analyzed multiple factors in drug allergy patients regarding vaccine acceptance, rejection, and hesitancy for the first time in literature, similar studies with larger samples can also contribute to the literature in the future.