Fear Of Vaccination Research Articles

Links between Vaccination Fear-, Anxiety-, Alexithymia-, and Type D Personality-Related Vaccination Decisions: A Network Analysis in a Multicultural Sample.

This study examines the links between vaccination status, fear of vaccination (cognitive and somatic symptoms), anxiety, alexithymia, and type D personality (negative affect and social inhibition), to propose policies to increase vaccination rates. A sample of university students (n = 2535; mean age = 20.59, SD = 2.04; male: 26.75%, female: 73.25%) from Spain, Italy, Lebanon, Nigeria, Turkey, and Ukraine completed the Vaccination Fear Scale (VFS-6), the Generalised Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire-Short Form (PAQ-S), the Type D Scale (DS14), and also a question on vaccination status. Correlation, regression, and network analyses were applied. Cognitive symptoms of fear of vaccination and negative affect were the most significant in the correlation and regression analyses. In the network analysis, negative affect showed the highest values in all centrality indices and positive relationships with other nodes. Vaccination status showed negative relationships with fear of vaccination, alexithymia, and social inhibition. The network structure is similar between the sexes but varies between cultures and sexes within cultures. The relationship between vaccination status and cognitive symptoms of fear of vaccination was the most consistent, allowing for interventions at this level to be advised across cultures. For more specific interventions, cultural context must be considered for optimal results.

Fear of the COVID-19 vaccine in a public healthcare system and university setting.

Despite the known benefits, some individuals remain apprehensive about receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, which hampers vaccination efforts and the achievement of herd immunity. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aimed to assess vaccination rates and identify factors influencing fear of the COVID-19 vaccine among individuals served by the public healthcare system (Family Health Strategy - FHS) and in a university community in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Surveys were conducted face-to-face with FHS participants and online with university members, employing a free sharing approach on social media. A total of 1896 and 312 responses were collected, respectively. The survey covered sociodemographic information, COVID-19 fear levels, and vaccination status for both individuals and their children Vaccination coverage was 83% among FHS participants and 99.1% in the university setting. Female respondents in both groups exhibited higher levels of COVID-19 fear (p<0.05), with FHS-assisted women reporting greater apprehension towards vaccination (p<0.05). Educated parents demonstrated better understanding of the importance of child vaccination, while younger parents expressed heightened concerns about vaccine side effects. Among FHS participants, women exhibited a 1.6 times higher fear of vaccination compared to men. Additionally, fear of vaccination increased by 1.10 times for each additional point on the COVID-19 Fear Scale (physiological domain). Effective communication strategies and dispelling misconceptions surrounding immunization could alleviate fear and promote vaccination acceptance.

Allergy skin prick tests with COVID-19 vaccines and their contribution to improve vaccination readiness and reduce anxiety

Abstract Background When coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines were introduced, they were suspected of triggering severe allergic reactions disproportionately often. This contributed to the fear of vaccination, particularly among allergy patients. Methods In an allergy center in eastern Bavaria, we used a skin prick test to investigate how often sensitization to COVID-19 vaccines can be detected and whether appropriate testing could significantly reduce the fear of vaccination. Results Comirnaty® (n = 245 tested/6.93% clearly positive reaction; Biontec/Pfizer, Mainz, Germany/New York City, NY, USA), Spikevax® (56/14.28%; Moderna, Cambridge, MA, USA), Vaxzevria® (208/4.32%; Astra Zeneca, Cambridge, England) and Jcovden® (48/4.16%; Johnson &amp; Johnson, New Brunswick, NJ, USA) were tested by skin prick test. Most participants tested were female (83.6%) and had a history of allergies (94.8%). Depending on the result of the skin prick test, the test subjects were advised on vaccination. In a questionnaire survey approximately 1 year after testing, 75.7% of the N = 70 respondents stated that their fear of vaccination had been greatly or very greatly reduced as a result of the testing and counseling. In the follow-up survey, 88.5% of all respondents had been vaccinated at least once. No notable allergic problems occurred during the COVID-19 vaccination in study participants. Conclusion The study shows that simple skin prick testing could reduce fears and concerns about allergic reactions to COVID-19 vaccines, and thus significantly increase the willingness to vaccinate in the population, especially among allergy patients.

Awareness and Attitudes Among Parents of Females Aged 9-26 in Saudi Arabia Regarding Human Papillomavirus Vaccination.

Background Most cases of cervical cancer are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, which can be prevented by vaccination. The HPV vaccine received approval in Saudi Arabia in 2010. Objectives This study aimed to examine the awareness and attitudes toward the HPV vaccine among parents of females aged 9-26 in Saudi Arabia and explore factors contributing to hesitancy or acceptance. Methods Conducted from November 2022 to June 2023 in Saudi Arabia, this cross-sectional study surveyed parents of females aged 9-26 using a self-administered questionnaire. Data collected included parental demographics, maternal vaccination status, awareness of the HPV vaccine, and attitudes toward it. Results Out of 551 participants, 445 (82.4%) were mothers. Most participants (331; 69.1%) had attained a university education, and approximately half (315; 57.2%) were employed. A total of 339 (61.5%) were aware of the HPV vaccine, 256 (46.5%) knew of its connection to cervical cancer, and 296 (53.7%) understood its preventive role. Among them, 230 participants demonstrated a good level of awareness, while 321 had a poor level. The majority (377; 68.4%) intended to vaccinate their daughters. Reasons for hesitancy among those unwilling included lack of awareness (234; 42.5%), insufficient information (206; 37.4%), fear of vaccines and needles (203; 36.8%), and conflicting medical opinions (165; 29.9%). Conclusion The current level of awareness regarding HPV vaccines within the general population is deemed satisfactory, with the majority expressing intent to vaccinate their daughters. Ongoing efforts are warranted to enhance awareness further, particularly by leveraging social media platforms and the expertise of trusted physicians and healthcare authorities. These endeavors are crucial for mitigating the preventable impact of HPV infection. Additionally, it is imperative to sustain immunization programs for HPV vaccines, ensuring streamlined vaccine administration.

Newborn vaccination game model with potentially periodic behavior

We explore the complex dynamics of epidemics, considering the significant effects of disease transmission, newborn individuals, and mortality rate. Employing an evolutionary game theory approach, we model the vaccination aspect for newborns, incorporating potential periodic behavior. The goal is to create an engaging simulation that underscores the criticality of timely infant vaccinations. By introducing periodic elements, the game adds complexity, fostering player participation and awareness of vaccination schedules. In contrast to traditional intervention game models focused on adult vaccine behavior, our approach recognizes the unique challenges posed by newborn vaccination. We address the limitations of existing models by developing a generalized compartmental model, accommodating infection duration distribution, and accurately capturing both periodic and non-periodic disease trajectories. The results show that higher efficacy in a newborn vaccine program can potentially eradicate the disease, but higher effectiveness and cost may deter vaccination. Increased motivation cost boosts vaccination rates without impacting epidemic size, whereas lower costs stabilize vaccination rates. Lower vaccine costs call for increased government investment to counter hesitancy. However, reduced efficacy and lower motivation lead to higher Vaccine Fear Scores, discouraging participation. Our work also offers a unique perspective on the dilemma of newborn vaccination, providing solutions with closed-form expressions that may exhibit periodic or non-periodic behavior. This approach facilitates disease modelers in exploring the potential periodicity of newborn vaccination programs, aiding efforts to prevent recurrent outbreaks.

Sentiment Analysis of Covid Vaccine Myths using Various Data Visualization Tools

INTRODUCTION: Anti-vaccination agitation is on the rise, both in-person and online, notably on social media. The Internet has become the principal source of health-related information and vaccines for an increasing number of individuals. This is worrisome since, on social media, any comment, whether from a medical practitioner or a layperson, has the same weight. As a result, low-quality data may have a growing influence on vaccination decisions for children.&#x0D; OBJECTIVES: This paper will evaluate the scale and type of vaccine-related disinformation, the main purpose was to discover what caused vaccine fear and anti-vaccination attitudes among social media users.&#x0D; METHODS: The vaccination-related data used in this paper was gathered from Reddit, an information-sharing social media network with about 430 million members, to examine popular attitudes toward the vaccine. The materials were then pre-processed. External links, punctuation, and bracketed information were the first things to go. All text was also converted to lowercase. This was followed by a check for missing data. This paper is novel and different as Matplotlib, pandas, and word cloud was used to create word clouds and every result has a visual representation. The Sentiment analysis was conducted using the NLTK library as well as polarity and subjectivity graphs were generated.&#x0D; RESULTS: It was discovered that the majority population had neutral sentiments regarding vaccination. Data visualization methods such as bar charts showed that neutral sentiment outnumbers both positive and negative sentiment.&#x0D; CONCLUSION: Prevalent Sentiment has a big influence on how people react to the media and what they say, especially as people utilize social media platforms more and more. Slight disinformation and/or indoctrination can quickly turn a neutral opinion into a negative one.

The Vaccination Fear Scale (VFS-6): Adaptation, Cross-Cultural Validation, and Invariance among Genders and Six Different Cultures, Applying Classical Test Theory (CTT) and Item Response Theory (IRT).

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had a meaningful impact on several areas of human activity. With respect to psychological assessment, the requirements to study the fear of vaccination as a means to diminish negative behaviour towards vaccination had been reported. This study aimed to evaluate the factorial invariance of the six-item Vaccination Fear Scale (VFS-6) across individuals and cultures. To achieve this goal, a sample of university students was recruited (n = 2535; mean age = 20.59, SD = 2.04; males: 26.75%, females: 73.25%) from Spain (n = 388; 15.3%), Italy (n = 376; 14.83%), Lebanon (n = 487; 19.21%), Nigeria (n = 561; 22.13%), Turkey (n = 410; 16.17%), and Ukraine (n = 313; 12.34%). The results showed that the most appropriate factorial structure, exhibiting excellent fit indices, was a model with two correlated factors (cognitive symptoms: items 1, 2, and 4; somatic symptoms: items 3, 5, and 6) for both the total sample and individual samples from each country and language (Spanish, Italian, Arabic, English, Turkish, and Ukrainian). Notably, the VFS-6 demonstrated configural, metric, scalar, and strict invariance across sex. Regarding countries and languages, configural invariance was observed between them. Also, metric invariance was observed between Spain, Italy, and Ukraine and between Lebanon, Nigeria, and Turkey, which indicates the presence of two well-differentiated groups of countries and the possibility of inferential analysis between them. Item Response Theory analysis suggested an appropriate level of discrimination and difficulty of the test. These significant findings lay the groundwork for future investigations into vaccination fear across diverse cultural backgrounds, providing valuable insights for addressing vaccination-related concerns worldwide.

Using the Health Belief Model to Predict Vaccination Intention in Unvaccinated Adults in Latvia During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract Vaccination is a global health development success story that saves millions of lives every year and reduces the risk of getting various infectious diseases, including COVID-19. At the end of 2021, a rapid increase in the size of the population infected with COVID-19 and a low vaccination coverage were observed in Latvia (Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, 2021). Also, despite the available vaccines, by the beginning of May 2022, only 60.6% of the population of Latvia had completed the full course of vaccination against COVID-19. According to the Ministry of Health, the vaccination process is characterised by variability and flexibility, and in general, vacci-nation rates have declined in recent years. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate the vaccination predicting factors of unvaccinated adults in Latvia using the Health Belief Model (HBM) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study sample consisted of 539 respondents aged 18 to 75 years (M = 45.35, SD = 15.70), who were not vaccinated against COVID-19 and who had to make a decision to vaccinate or not, and who were part of a representative sample of Latvian residents (n = 1017). The data was collected in September and were analysed using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient and multivariate linear regression analysis. A statistically significant moderate strong positive correlation was shown between vaccination intention and all six vaccination motives as perceived benefits (r = 0.40–0.44, p &lt; 0.01); statistically significant but weak positive correlation between vaccination intention and risk appraisal as perceived threat (r = 0.20, p &lt; 0.01) and COVID-19 experience as cues to action (r = 0.20, p &lt; 0.01); and statistically significant negative but weak correlation for vaccination intention and fear of vaccination as perceived barriers (r = –0.21, p &lt; 0.01). The results revealed a statistically significant positive association of vaccination intention and the components of HBM: perceived threats, perceived benefits and cues to action, as well as a statistically significant negative association with perceived barriers. The results revealed several factors that predict vaccination intention, explaining 32% of the variation in vaccination intention: education level, perceived threats, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and cues to action. Higher levels of education, higher perceived threat of contracting COVID-19, many different social motives for vaccination (e.g., to be able travel), confidence that the vaccine will not cause significant side effects and long-term consequences, and experience with COVID-19 are factors that predicts an individual’s intention to vaccinate against COVID-19.

P692 An IBD nurse-led educational programme on safety and efficacy of adjuvated recombinant zoster vaccine can improve vaccine uptake in IBD patients on immunosuppressive treatment

Abstract Background Herpes Zoster (HZ) represents one of the most frequent opportunistic infections in IBD patients under immunosoppressive treatment and can be prevented by vaccination. Adjuvated recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) is the first HZ vaccine approved for immunocompromised persons. IBD patients are less likely to receive appropriate vaccinations compared to the general population. IBD nurses operate as the primary point of contact for patients and this unique position provides a suitable opportunity to positively impact patient care and encourage vaccination. We aimed to improve RZV vaccination rates by a nurse-led education intervention within an on-site RZV vaccination programme. Methods IBD patients on immunosuppressive therapies were actively recruited by phone contact, mail and during outpatient clinic or infusion centre attendance. Prior immunization to VZV was collected from medical records. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either standard explanation on the importance of HZ vaccination by the IBD attending physician (group P) or additional education by an IBD nurse (group N). Patients in group N were referred to an IBD nurse for an individual 15 minutes nurse–patient interview. During the interview, disease activity and current treatment, previous immunization to VZV and history of HZ were reviewed; the importance, benefits and safety of HZ vaccination with RZV were discussed with the patient. Patients were then referred to dedicated on-site vaccination clinics where vaccine administration was provided by the IBD nurses running the infusion centre. Reasons for vaccine refusal was also recorded. Results From February to April 2022, 164 (80%) out of 205 eligible patients were enrolled (median age 48.5 years, 54.1% male; 48.7% UC, 51.3% CD); 65 patients (39.6%) were randomized to group P and 99 patients (60.4%) to group N. Six months after randomization, 112 (68.2%) had received at least 1 RZV vaccine dose whereas vaccination was completed in 110 patients (67%). Vaccination rate was significantly higher in the nurse-led education intervention group compared to standard clinical care (group N 75.7% vs group P 56.9%,p&amp;lt;0.05). Most common reasons for vaccine hesitancy were concerns about side effects (40.9%), fear of vaccine aggravating the disease (14.7%), considering themselves not at risk (13.3%) and objection to the administration of vaccine (10.1%). Conclusion Vaccination recommendations should be responsibility of the IBD patient care team and efforts should be made to reduce vaccine hesitancy. We showed that a simple nurse-led educational intervention on vaccine safety and efficacy was able to improve RVZ vaccination rates in IBD patients on immunosuppressive treatment.

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Its Causes among Elderly Family Members of Health-care Workers

Abstract Introduction: Vaccination has proven to be an effective preventive measure against COVID-19. The main hindrance for COVID-19 vaccination is vaccine hesitancy. Attitude of health-care workers (HCWs) toward vaccination is vital to promote vaccination and reduce vaccine hesitancy. HCWs are expected to promote COVID-19 vaccination and educate their family members for vaccination. Thus, it is important to know the reasons for vaccine hesitancy among elderly family members of HCWs so that these barriers can be overcome by proper measures. Methodology: This was a single-center cross-sectional study conducted by questionnaire-based interviews of HCWs pertaining to the COVID-19 vaccination details of their elderly household members. Questions with Likert scale-type responses were used to discern the reasons for vaccine hesitancy. Results: Among the study group, 38% were found to have high vaccine hesitancy. Low educational status (P = 0.0001), rural area of residence (P = 0.001), and female gender (P = 0.028) as well as the occupation of the HCW respondent (P = 0.011) were found to be significantly associated with high vaccine hesitancy. Fear of unknown side effects (52.6%), difficulties with vaccination slot booking (48.4%), belief of low risk for contracting COVID-19 disease, fear of the vaccine side effects, fear of vaccine itself causing COVID-19 illness, and mistrust against the vaccine manufacturers were the most common reasons for vaccine hesitancy. Conclusion: High vaccine hesitancy was found among elderly individuals with lower education status, female gender, and residence in rural areas. Fear of side effects of vaccine and contracting COVID-19 from the vaccine, logistical and technical difficulties, belief of low disease risk, and mistrust against the vaccine manufacturers were the most common reasons for vaccine hesitancy.

Fear of Needles and Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Acceptance Amongst Adults in the United Arab Emirates: A Cross-Sectional Study and Implications for Nursing.

Seasonal influenza remains a challenge in the United Arab Emirates, and vaccination is an important preventive measure. However, fear of needles may be an obstacle in vaccination efforts. The purpose of this study was to determine, in a non-clinical sample obtained from the UAE, how much of an impact fear of needles has on the decision to receive the seasonal influenza vaccine. In the period September-December 2022, 372 participants were surveyed on their willingness to be vaccinated, their level of vaccine knowledge, and their level of fear of needles. Logistic regression models were used to assess the impact of fear of needles and vaccine knowledge on the decision to accept the seasonal influenza vaccine. Fear of needles and vaccine knowledge are significant predictors in the decision to receive the vaccine. There were no gender or ethnic differences in fear of needles, but there were differences in the decision to receive the vaccines, with women and non-Arabs being more hesitant. Fear of needles may be an important variable to account for in public policies designed to improve vaccination rates in the UAE. For public health policy in the UAE, this implies that authorities must dedicate efforts to manage fear of needles in the general population. Efforts to address fear of vaccines in the general population must be made with proper training of nurses. Alternatively, authorities may need to seek oral alternatives for the administration of the seasonal influenza vaccine.

Covid-19 Vaccine Phobia in Bangladesh: A Study on its Communication Perspectives

This study investigates Covid-19 vaccine phobia in Bangladesh’s Rangpur division, focusing on underlying reasons and the effectiveness of communication methods in reducing hesitancy. A survey of 500 respondents across diverse demographics revealed that 60.4% received the vaccine, while 39.6% did not. Most respondents (78.2%) believed the vaccine was safe, though 21.8% considered it unsafe. Vaccine phobia was absent in 71.4%, yet 28.6% exhibited hesitancy due to concerns like side effects (27.6%), needle phobia (18.2%), distrust in vaccines from other countries (18%), and fear of contracting Covid-19 from the vaccine (17.6%). The study underscores the pivotal role of communication in shaping vaccine attitudes, with social media being the most influential source for 45.2% of respondents and the most informative for 36.8%. Traditional media also had a notable impact. Effective communication strategies, especially via social media, are essential for dispelling misinformation, reducing vaccine fears, and improving public health outcomes during pandemics.

Effect of chronic diseases on willingness to receive the second COVID-19 vaccine booster dose among cancer patients: A multicenter cross-sectional survey in China

Cancer patients and those with chronic diseases face severe outcomes from SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, their willingness to receive a second booster dose remains low. This study identified factors affecting the willingness of cancer patients with chronic diseases (CPCD) and cancer patients without chronic diseases (non-CPCD) to receive the second COVID-19 booster vaccine dose. A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted across 4 tertiary care hospitals in China. Based on the Health Belief Model, a questionnaire assessed respondents' perceptions of the second booster dose. Multivariable logistic regression analyzed factors influencing the willingness to receive a second vaccine dose. Out of 171 CPCD and 722 non-CPCD, CPCD showed a higher willingness to receive the second booster dose than non-CPCD (46.8% vs 32.3%, P<.001). Factors influencing CPCD's willingness included the belief that vaccination was detrimental to cancer treatment and the perceived higher infection risk compared to healthy individuals. Fear of vaccination's negative impact on cancer treatment was the main factor affecting non-CPCD's willingness (each P<.05). Different factors influenced the willingness of the 2 groups. Health education interventions should be implemented alongside vaccination, involving patients' relatives and medical staff, for both CPCD and non-CPCD populations. Additionally, health management service interventions should emphasize the benefits of vaccination for CPCD to improve their second dose coverage.

Predictors of Vaccination Intentions and Behaviour during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy.

The present research aimed at understanding individuals' vaccination intentions and protective behaviours against COVID-19 through two different studies. In Study 1 (N = 213, 73% women; mean age = 24.03) the Protection Motivation Theory model was tested considering the fear of COVID-19 as a possible mediator between threat appraisal (in terms of both health and social life) and intentions to get vaccinated when the vaccination was not yet available. Study 2 (N = 1111, 68.9% women; mean age = 38.33) was conducted when the vaccine became available for the entire population. Through this study, by adopting the 5C model of vaccine hesitancy as a theoretical framework, we aimed to understand how people who got vaccinated and the ones who did not differed, considering fear of vaccination, personality and vaccination hesitancy. In Study 1, social limitations, perceived severity and COVID-19 perceived vulnerability were significantly and positively related to fear of COVID-19. Contrary to what we expected, fear of COVID-19 was not a significant predictor of vaccination intention, which was predicted by both response efficacy and self-efficacy. In Study 2, in line with previous studies, vaccine hesitancy was negatively related to vaccination. More specifically, the social-oriented dimension of collective responsibility was the strongest predictor of effective behaviour. Our findings provide insights into the complexity of vaccine acceptance and emphasise the need for targeted interventions to promote vaccination and mitigate the spread of infectious diseases.

Why healthcare providers are not vaccinated? A qualitative study during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran

BackgroundVaccination has been effective in controlling contagious diseases, especially among high-risk groups such as medical staff. Their unwillingness to be vaccinated might adversely affect individual and public health. This study aimed to explore the factors related to the refusal of COVID-19 vaccines among health service providers.MethodsA qualitative study was conducted on 28 healthcare providers in Mashhad, Northeast of Iran from March to June 2022. The method of data collection was face-to-face interviews. The purposive method was used for sampling. Data collection continued until the saturation was reached. To analyze the data, the content analysis method was applied, and Maxqda (version 10) software was used.ResultsBy analyzing interview transcripts, six themes and ten sub-themes were extracted. Factors that explained employees’ reluctance to be vaccinated against COVID-19 were the opinion of peers, lack of trust in vaccines, fear of vaccination, mistrust to the government and health authorities, low perceived risk of coronavirus disease, and the contradictions of traditional and modern medicine in their approach to controlling the disease.ConclusionsAmong healthcare workers, concerns about the side effects of vaccines were the most influential factors in refusing vaccination. Providing reliable information about vaccines and their safety is key to increasing the trust of health workers in vaccination and facilitating its acceptance.

Identifying barriers to vaccination intention at walk-in vaccination facilities in deprived neighbourhoods: A cross-sectional survey

ObjectivesLow COVID-19 vaccination adherence in deprived neighbourhoods is problematic since the prevalence of chronic diseases associated with mortality rates due to COVID-19 is higher in these populations. The aim of this study is to provide an insight about beliefs and considerations relating to vaccination intention among inhabitants of deprived neighbourhoods in the Netherlands. DesignCross-sectional survey. SettingEasily accessible vaccination facilities at markets in deprived neighbourhoods in the Netherlands. ParticipantsParticipants were recruited at three vaccination facilities that were set up at markets in deprived neighbourhoods in Rotterdam. A total of 124 surveys were retained for analysis. Main outcome measureIntention to get vaccinated against COVID-19. ResultsThe survey was filled out by 124 respondents; 62 % had - prior to visiting the easily accessible locations - intended to get a COVID-19 vaccine and 38 % were hesitant (22.3 % had doubts and 15.7 % did not plan to get vaccinated). Many people mentioned the convenience of an easily accessible location nearby. At the bivariate level, the influence of information from the family was associated with vaccination intention (p < 0.01). In a logistic regression model, both fear of vaccination and fear of side-effects were significantly associated with vaccination intention (ORs 0.56 (CI 0.35–0.89) and 0.47 (CI 0.30–0.73)). ConclusionThe accessibility of a vaccination facility, family influence and fear are relevant factors for the intention to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in people living in deprived neighbourhoods. Interventions should address these factors in order to increase vaccination uptake.

Assessment of Vaccination Rates and Barriers in Family Medicine Practices: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Vaccination is a crucial tool in publichealth for preventing the spread of infectious diseases. Understanding the factors influencing vaccine acceptance and addressing barriers to vaccination are essential in promoting vaccine uptake and achieving population-level protection. Methodology: This study examined the demographic factors, vaccination rates, and barriers to vaccination among 385 participants. The participants were categorized based on age, gender, marital status, having children, monthly income, educational level, occupation, and nationality. Data on willingness to vaccinate, completion of the vaccination course, and barriers to vaccination were collected through surveys. Results: The study found that 80% of participants expressed their willingness to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Factors included age, having children, monthly income, and educational level, influenced vaccine acceptance. Participants in the 18-25 years age group showed the highest willingness to vaccinate (85%), while those with higher incomes and higher educational levels also demonstrated higher rates of acceptance. Several barriers to vaccination were identified, including fear of vaccination, concerns about vaccine safety, and accessibility issues. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of vaccination and provides valuable insights into the demographic factors, vaccination rates, and barriers to vaccination. The findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions to address specific concerns and improve accessibility to vaccines. By addressing these barriers, public health authorities can enhance vaccine acceptance and achieve widespread vaccination coverage, thereby mitigating the impact of infectious diseases on public health. Key words: Vaccination rates, Barriers

Experiences of American Health Departments, Health Systems, and Community Organizations in COVID-19 Vaccine Provision for Refugee, Immigrant, and Migrant Communities.

Effective provision of COVID-19 vaccines could mitigate the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic experienced by many immigrant communities. To describe organizational experiences in using COVID-19 vaccination programs, qualitative interviews were conducted from September 2020 to April 2021 with representatives from public health, health system, and community organizations responding to the COVID-19 pandemic among immigrant communities across the United States. Interviews followed a semistructured interview guide and were audio recorded, transcribed, and coded. A latent thematic analysis was facilitated by Dedoose software. Interviews representative of 18 public health departments, 20 healthcare systems, and 18 community organizations were included in the analysis. Five identified themes referenced the importance of 1) appreciating community and individual heterogeneity in health priorities and attitudes; 2) addressing vaccine fears with trustworthy messages; 3) ensuring equitable access to vaccine opportunities; 4) making substantive investments in community partnerships and outreach; and 5) adapting to meet new needs. It is essential that vaccine efforts consider community heterogeneity, communicate in a trustworthy and culturally and linguistically appropriate manner, strive for equitable provision of care, build partnerships, and learn from prior experiences.

Factors influencing uptake of the COVID-19 vaccination among pregnant women in Australia: A cross-sectional survey.

Mounting evidence shows the risk of COVID-19 on perinatal outcomes, as well as the safety and efficacy of vaccination during pregnancy. However, little is known about vaccine uptake among pregnant women in Australia, including women who are culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD), and about sources of information pregnant women use when making decisions about vaccines. We aimed to determine the proportion of pregnant women who had been vaccinated and to identify factors associated with vaccine uptake or decline during pregnancy. A cross-sectional, anonymous, online survey was conducted from October 2021 to January 2022 in two metropolitan hospitals in New South Wales, Australia. Of 914 pregnant women, 406 (44%) did not speak English at home. Overall, 101 (11%) received a vaccine prepregnancy and 699 (76%) during pregnancy. In the nonvaccinated cohort, 87 (76%) declined vaccination during pregnancy. The uptake was more than 87% among women during pregnancy who received information from government or health professional websites but 37% when received from personal blogs. The main reasons for vaccine uptake were (1) hearing that COVID-19 affects pregnant women, (2) being concerned about the COVID-19 outbreak, and (3) receiving vaccine recommendation from a general practitioner. In a multivariable logistic regression, three main factors associated with declining or feeling unsure about vaccination were (1) concerns about the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine, (2) lack of trust and being unsatisfied with the information received about COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy, and (3) doubting the importance of COVID-19 vaccine. Clinicians play a critical role in counseling women to alleviate vaccine fear, support vaccine acceptance, and direct women to use reliable information sources, such as government and professional healthcare organizations, for information about vaccines.

PCR99 Regular COVID-19 Booster Shot Preference and Willingness to Pay in the Vietnamese Population: A Theory-Driven Discrete Choice Experiment

This study aims to 1) investigate public acceptance for regular COVID-19 boosters, 2) assess willingness to pay for a COVID-19 booster shot, and 3) identify factors associated with vaccine hesitancy. Our results provide crucial insights and implications for policy response as well as the development of a feasible and effective vaccination campaign, during Vietnam's waning vaccine immunity period. A Discrete Choice Experiment study was conducted among 871 Vietnamese online participants distributed using the snowball sampling method in 2022. Among participants, 87.4% had received or were waiting for a COVID-19 booster shot. However, the willingness to pay was low at $US 8, and most participants indicated an unwillingness to pay (25.8%) or willingness to pay for only half of the vaccine costs (25.4%). While information insufficiency and wariness towards vaccines were factors most associated with the unwillingness to pay, long-term side effects, immunity duration, and mortality rate were the attributes most concerned with during the vaccine decision-making period. Participants who had children less than 18 years old in their homes infected with COVID-19 had a lower willingness to pay (OR = 0.54; 95% CI = 0.39; 0.74). The burden of medical expenses (OR = 0.33; 95% CI = 0.25; 0.45) and fear of vaccine (OR = 0.93; 95% CI = 0.86; 1.00) were the negative factors of the level of willingness to pay. Significant inconsistency between high acceptance and low willingness to pay underscores the role of vaccine information and public trust. In addition to raising awareness about the most concerning characteristics of the COVID-19 booster, social media, and social listening should be utilized in collaboration with health professionals to establish a two-way information exchange. Most importantly, all interventions should be conducted with informational transparency to strengthen trust between the public and authorities.