Differences in COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance, Hesitancy, and Confidence between Healthcare Workers and the General Population in Japan.

Megumi Hara,Motoki Ishibashi,Yoshio Hirota,Atsushi Nakane,Takashi Nakano

doi:10.3390/vaccines9121389

Megumi Hara, Motoki Ishibashi + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9121389

Copy DOI

Abstract

Little is known about the differences in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine acceptance and hesitancy between the general population and healthcare workers in Japan. To compare these differences, a nationwide web-based cross-sectional survey was conducted on 19 January 2021, shortly before the initiation of COVID-19 vaccinations in Japan. A total of 6180 men and women aged 20–69 years and 1030 healthcare workers aged 20–69 years were enrolled. Data on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance, basic characteristics, including socioeconomic factors, and confidence in immunization in general were collected. COVID-19 vaccine acceptance was also evaluated under hypothetical vaccine effectiveness and adverse event frequencies. Factors associated with vaccine hesitancy were examined using multinomial logistic regression analysis. The COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate was 48.6% among the general population and was lower among nurses (45.5%) and medical clerks (40.7%). Women and young adults had significantly higher COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy odds ratios, and current smokers had significantly lower odds ratios. The frequency of adverse events was a COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy factor. Even if these factors were adjusted, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among nurses was 1.4 times higher than that among the general population. Thus, interventions to improve health literacy and vaccine hesitancy among the general population and healthcare workers, especially nurses, are needed.

Highlights

Vaccine hesitancy is a challenge in promoting vaccination against coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
The healthcare workers group had significantly higher proportions of women, younger age groups, higher annual household incomes, higher educational attainment, those who were vaccinated against influenza in the current and last seasons, and those who understood the implications of vaccine effectiveness
There were significantly lower proportions of people living in the declared emergency areas, obesity, and current smoking among the healthcare workers compared with the general population

Summary

Introduction

Vaccine hesitancy is a challenge in promoting vaccination against coronavirus disease (COVID-19). A COVID-19 vaccine acceptance (willingness to be vaccinated) survey conducted in Europe in April 2020 showed approximately 70% acceptance of the vaccine among respondents. A survey conducted in the United States in May of the same year indicated approximately 70% acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine [4]. In a survey of 13,426 people in 19 countries in June of the same year, approximately 70% of the respondents were willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The intention to receive the vaccine increased with confidence in information from governments [5]. The duration since the start of the pandemic, sex, age, educational and socioeconomic factors, region, religion, trust in the government, characteristics such as confidence in the vaccine, and recommendation of vaccination from healthcare workers have been reported to be impactful factors related to the intention to receive COVID-19 vaccines [6]. A recent meta-analysis reported a lower (51%) COVID19 vaccine acceptance rate among healthcare workers, especially among female healthcare workers [9]

Objectives

Results

Discussion

Conclusion