Abstract
Background: Vaccine hesitancy has been recognized as a major global health threat by the World Health Organization. Many studies have investigated vaccine safety as a determinant for vaccine hesitancy; however, not much attention has been paid to vaccine production and quality control during the vaccine production process or whether knowledge about this topic may influence vaccine confidence. The aim of this study was to characterize the common knowledge about the vaccine production process. Methods: A freely accessible online questionnaire was developed on Google Modules and disseminated through social networks. A descriptive analysis of the collected answers was performed, and the chi-square test was used to assess significant differences for the sociodemographic characteristics of the study population (age, gender, work or education and training in the healthcare setting, minor offspring). A binary logistic regression model was performed considering these socio-demographic categories as independent variables. Results: The number of collected questionnaire was 135. Most of the participants (127/135, 94.1%) were aware that quality control measures are carried out during manufacturing, although some knowledge gaps emerged in specific aspects of the vaccine production process, without statistically significant differences between age groups. Working in the healthcare setting or being educated in healthcare may be considered predictors for a better understanding that more than 50% of the production time is spent on quality control (AOR = 3.43; 95% CI: 1.84–8.14, p = 0.01) and that considering quality control performed during the vaccine production process is adequate for avoiding contamination (AOR = 7.90; 95% CI: 0.97–64.34; p = 0.05). Conclusions: This study allowed for a characterization of common knowledge about the vaccine production process. It highlighted the need to implement specific strategies to spread correct information about the vaccine production process. This study may contribute to increased confidence and trust in vaccines and vaccination among the general population.
Highlights
Vaccines and vaccinations are invaluable resources for health protection, both for the individuals and for the community
We found that working or having an education in the healthcare setting was a predictor factor for knowing that more than 50% of the production time is spent on quality control (AOR = 3.43; 95% CI: 1.84–8.14; p = 0.01) and for considering the control performed during the vaccine production process as adequate in order to avoid contamination (AOR = 7.90; 95% CI: 0.97–64.34; p = 0.05)
The scientific literature has widely discussed the concerns about vaccine hesitancy and vaccine safety; not much attention has been paid to vaccine production process and whether this may influence people’s attitudes toward vaccines and vaccination
Summary
Vaccines and vaccinations are invaluable resources for health protection, both for the individuals and for the community. High vaccination levels allow the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPD) to be reduced and, if possible, herd immunity to be attained [5]. Despite these accountable benefits, vaccine hesitancy has gradually increased among the general population, representing one of the top ten global health threats in 2019 [6]. A descriptive analysis of the collected answers was performed, and the chi-square test was used to assess significant differences for the sociodemographic characteristics of the study population (age, gender, work or education and training in the healthcare setting, minor offspring). Conclusions: This study allowed for a characterization of common knowledge about the vaccine production process. This study may contribute to increased confidence and trust in vaccines and vaccination among the general population
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