The Perception and Attitudes toward COVID-19 Vaccines: A Cross-Sectional Study in Poland.

Piotr Rzymski,Ilona Małecka,Joanna Zeyland,Barbara Poniedziałek,Jacek Wysocki

doi:10.3390/vaccines9040382

Piotr Rzymski, Ilona Małecka + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9040382

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Abstract

Vaccine hesitancy is a major threat to the success of COVID-19 vaccination programs. The present cross-sectional online survey of adult Poles (n = 1020) expressing a willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine was conducted between February and March 2021 and aimed to assess (i) the general trust in different types of vaccines, (ii) the level of acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccines already in use in Poland (BNT162b2 by BioNTech/Pfizer, mRNA-1273 by Moderna and AZD1222 by Oxford/AstraZeneca) as well as eight vaccines approved outside European Union (EU) or in advanced stages of clinical trials, (iii) level of fear of vaccination against COVID-19, and (iv) main sources of information on COVID-19 vaccination. Among all major vaccine technology, the highest level of trust was observed for the mRNA platform, with a considerable number of surveyed (>20%) not aware of the existence of vaccines produced using the traditional approach (inactivated and live attenuated vaccines). The age of participants was the main factor differentiating the level of trust in a particular vaccine type. Both BNT162b and mRNA-1273 received a high level of acceptance, contrary to AZD1222. From eight vaccines unauthorized in the EU at the moment of study, the CVnCoV (mRNA; CureVac) was met with the highest level of trust, followed by Ad26.COV2.S (vector; Janssen/Johnson&Johnson) and NVX-CoV2373 (protein; Novavax). Sputnik V (vector; Gamaleya Research Institute) was decidedly the least trusted vaccine. The median level of fear (measured by the 10-point Likert-type scale) in the studied group was 4.0, mostly related to the risk of serious allergic reactions, other severe adverse events and unknown long-term effects of vaccination. Female, individuals with a lower level of education and those not seeking any information on the COVID-19 vaccines revealed a higher fear of vaccination. Experts’ materials were the major source of information on COVID-19 vaccines in the studied group. The study shows the level of trust in COVID-19 vaccines can vary much across the producers while the mRNA vaccines are received with a high level of acceptance. It also emphasizes the need for effective and continuous science communication when fighting the pandemic as it may be an ideal time to increase the general awareness of vaccines.

Highlights

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a challenge to healthcare systems, the economy, and education [1,2,3]
The present study clearly shows that the perception of various authorized COVID-19 vaccines may differ significantly
The study assessed the general trust in vaccines in the Polish population and the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized and unauthorized in the European Union when the survey was conducted

Summary

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a challenge to healthcare systems, the economy, and education [1,2,3]. It put billions of people in quarantine during national lockdowns, magnifying pre-existing psychological and health issues and affecting various aspects of life [4,5]. The health crisis has been counteracted by the scientific community’s unprecedented efforts encompassing basic research on SARS-CoV-2, epidemiological modeling, characterizing the clinical image of COVID-19, studies on repurposed drugs to treat the disease, and the development of vaccine candidates [6,7,8]. Initial data originating from massive vaccinations reassure that these vaccines are an effective tool on the way to fight the pandemic [14]

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