Vaccine Acceptance Rates Research Articles

COVID-19 Vaccine Intention Among Iranian Health Workers: Application of the HBM Model

ABSTRACT The study aimed to determine the application of the health belief model (HBM) in the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination among health workers in 2021. The cross-sectional study was conducted on 3600 health workers from February to March 2021. Data was collected using a researcher-made questionnaire that included the intention to receive vaccines based on the health belief model constructs. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics indicators, Chi-square, ANOVA test, and logistic regression model at a 95% confidence level. More than 62% of the participants intended to receive the vaccine. The odds of intention to receive the vaccine among people who worked in the health center and did not have a history of hospitalization due to COVID-19 disease were 1.50 and 2.10 units more than the others. Intention to receive the vaccine in individuals with high perceived sensitivity was 1.10 units. Furthermore, in terms of perceived benefits, self-efficacy, and cue-to-action constructs were 1.15, 1.34, and 1.65 units respectively. The rate of vaccine acceptance among Iranian health care workers was relatively good and the constructs of HBM in predicting the rate of intention to receive the vaccine had good applicability.

I want to be safe: understanding the main drivers behind vaccination choice throughout the pandemic

BackgroundDespite being a major advancement in modern medicine, vaccines face widespread hesitancy and refusal, posing challenges to immunization campaigns. The COVID-19 pandemic accentuated vaccine hesitancy, emphasizing the pivotal role of beliefs in efficacy and safety on vaccine acceptance rates. This study explores the influence of efficacy and safety perceptions on vaccine uptake in Italy during the pandemic.MethodsWe administered a 70-item questionnaire to a representative sample of 600 Italian speakers. Participants were tasked with assessing the perceived effectiveness and safety of each vaccine dose, along with providing reasons influencing their vaccination choices. Additionally, we conducted an experimental manipulation, exploring the effects of four framing messages that emphasized safety and/or efficacy on participants’ willingness to receive a hypothetical fourth vaccine dose. Furthermore, participants were asked about their level of trust in the scientific community and public authorities, as well as their use of different information channels for obtaining COVID-19-related information.ResultsOur study reveals a dynamic shift in vaccine efficacy and safety perceptions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, potentially influencing vaccination compliance. Initially perceived as more effective than safe, this assessment reversed by the time of the third dose. Beliefs regarding safety, rather than efficacy, played a significant role in anticipating future vaccinations (e.g., the booster dose). Safety-focused messages positively affected vaccination intent, while efficacy-focused messages showed limited impact. We also observed a changing trend in reasons for vaccination, with a decline in infection-related reasons and an increase in social related ones. Furthermore, trust dynamics evolved differently for public authorities and the scientific community.ConclusionsVaccine perception is a dynamic process shaped by evolving factors like efficacy and safety perceptions, trust levels, and individual motivations. Our study sheds light on the complex dynamics that underlie the perception of vaccine safety and efficacy, and their impact on willingness to vaccinate. We discuss these results in light of bounded rationality, loss aversion and classic utility theory.

Acceptability of COVID-19 booster vaccine in malaysia: a cross-sectional study

Despite the high efficacy and safety demonstrated in clinical trials, COVID-19 booster vaccination rates in Malaysia remain below 50% among the general public. This study explores the factors influencing public acceptance of the COVID-19 booster vaccine among the Malaysian population. The questionnaire included variables on sociodemographics, knowledge, and the Health Belief Model (HBM) constructs. Based on the Chi-squared test of contingencies, a t-test and multivariate logistic regression analysis on 411 collected responses, the findings revealed that older participants, individuals of Chinese ethnicity, and those with higher education levels and incomes were more willing to accept booster vaccinations. The analysis further identified perceived susceptibility, perceived severity and perceived barriers as significant predictors influencing booster vaccination acceptance rates. Healthcare policymakers may consider targeting interventions to diminish the obstacles associated with booster vaccinations. These intervention strategies include implementing health intervention programmes, such as public health awareness initiatives, to raise awareness of the risks and severity of COVID-19, ultimately encouraging higher uptake of booster vaccines.

Individual and social determinants of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and uptake in Northwest Syria

IntroductionThe COVID-19 outbreak devastated the fragmented health system in Syria, a war-torn country, and exaggerated the demands for humanitarian assistance. COVID-19 vaccination was rolled out in Northwest Syria, an area out of government control, in May 2021. However, vaccine acceptance rates are still minimal, which is reflected in the meager percentage of vaccinated people. The study aims to investigate the effectiveness of the humanitarian actors’ plans to address the COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and conclude practical strategies for boosting vaccine uptake in Northwest Syria.Methods and materialsTwo questionnaires were developed to collect data from humanitarian organizations involved in the COVID-19 vaccination campaign and people from northwest Syria. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 22 data analysis program.ResultsAccording to the findings, 55.5% of people refused the COVID-19 vaccine. The results showed a knowledge gap and lack of evidence regarding humanitarian actors’ strategies to address the vaccine’s low uptake. Besides, it was found that doctors and medical workers were reliable sources of information about the vaccine. However, they were not systematically engaged in community mobilization and risk communication to promote people’s perspectives on the vaccine.ConclusionRisk communication and community engagement programs were not significantly associated with increasing the COVID-19 acceptance rate. Humanitarian actors must reconsider their strategies to address vaccine hesitancy in Northwest Syria. These strategies should engage medical professionals through dialogue sessions on the realities of the pandemic and vaccine development mechanism based on a compelling and evidence-based approach.

Pharmacist assessments and care to improve adult vaccination rates: A report from project IMPACT vaccine confidence

BackgroundNeglect of vaccination needs among adults results in a needless burden of hospitalization, suffering, and death. America's community pharmacists deliver a substantial portion of adult vaccinations, yet many Americans still have unmet vaccination needs. ObjectivesThis study evaluated rates of vaccine contraindications, acceptance, and willingness to be vaccinated among ambulatory adults. Practice descriptionThis was a prospective, multisite, multistate, observational study conducted in three waves between October 2021 and August 2023. Practice innovationPharmacists conducted comprehensive vaccination need assessments. Evaluation methodsThe primary outcomes were numbers of vaccination needs per participant and vaccinations administered, scheduled, or declined. ResultsPharmacists identified a mean of 1.8-2.2 unmet vaccination needs per adult assessed, more than in pilot studies. Participants had already received 61%-74% of vaccinations recommended for them hence 26%-39% of needs were unmet at baseline. The leading vaccination needs were COVID-19, influenza, zoster, tetanus-containing, and pneumococcal vaccines. From a baseline mean of 59.1% for these five vaccinations, pharmacists increased the mean percentage vaccinated to 73.2%. When an option for scheduling future vaccination was added to the process, declinations dropped from 46%-18%. ConclusionThis study provides insight into adult vaccine acceptance, willingness, and declination behaviors not described elsewhere. Offering options for future vaccination reduced declination rates. Pharmacists resolved substantial proportions of adult vaccination needs. The signal that apportioning adult vaccines needed, but not received on day of assessment, across several months could help resolve unmet vaccination needs warrants additional research, especially with the rising number of vaccines recommended for adults.

Evaluating the Motivation to Accept/Not Accept the COVID-19 Vaccination and its Related Factors in Health Care Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Vaccination is one of the most cost-effective ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Objectives: The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of vaccine acceptance, side effects, and factors encouraging/disincentivizing vaccination among healthcare workers. Methods: A descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 315 health workers at Imam Reza Hospital, Kermanshah, Iran, in 2021. The samples were selected through a simple random sampling method. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire, and the collected data were analyzed in STATA-17 software. Results: The vaccine acceptance rate was 84.1% (n = 265), and the vaccine refusal rate was 15.9% (n = 50). The most injected vaccines were Sinopharm (n = 112, 42.3%) and Sputnik (n = 88, 33.2%), respectively. The most common side effects after vaccine injection were fatigue (34.8%, n=39) and myalgia (14.3%, n = 16). Being in a high-risk place (n = 199, 75.2%) and fear of contracting COVID-19 (n = 88, 33.5%) were the most important reasons for encouraging vaccination. About 36.7% (n = 18) of blood clotting, 26.5% (n = 14) cardiac arrest, short-term safety, and distrust were the essential factors for not accepting the vaccine. Conclusions: Based on the results, the prevalence of vaccine acceptance among health workers was high. However, a small percentage did not want to accept the vaccine due to negative news and a lack of trust in the vaccine. Therefore, it is necessary to establish strong educational and awareness-raising associations that transmit knowledge of the COVID-19 vaccine by focusing on false information.

WITHDRAWN: A Survey on the Attitude and Willingness of Chinese Cancer Patients toward a COVID-19 Booster Vaccine

ObjectiveThe 2019 novel coronavirus is still rapidly mutating and spreading worldwide, posing a great global health challenge, especially vulnerable groups, including cancer patients. Studies comparing the clinical outcomes of cancer patients receiving or not receiving the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines have not yet shown significant benefits. Therefore, this study mainly focused on the attitudes and willingness of cancer patients toward COVID-19 booster vaccines and to distinguish independent predictors that may impact the vaccination of cancer patients. MethodsAn online cross-sectional study was conducted between July 1, 2022 and January 1, 2023 in China. Patients were selected using a convenience sampling method, and a self-reporting questionnaire was developed based on a literature review to evaluate the attitude of cancer patients towards the intensive use of COVID-19 vaccines and the willingness of patients to accept the COVID-19 vaccine. Independent predictors associated with accepting a COVID-19 booster vaccine were determined through multivariate logistic regression. ResultsA total of 1055 participants were included in this study. The vaccine acceptance rate was 56.11% (592/1055), while the hesitancy rate was 43.89% (463/1055). Frequent smoking, those who had received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, belief that the COVID-19 booster vaccine was necessary, belief that the COVID-19 booster vaccine was safe and effective, willingness to pay for the COVID-19 booster vaccine, and recommendation of COVID-19 booster vaccine by friends and family were contributing factors for vaccine acceptance. ConclusionThis study recommends developing healthcare policies appropriate for cancer patients to facilitate their acceptance of vaccines, such as publishing the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, providing individualized treatment options after adequate risk assessment and developing specific COVID-19 vaccines suitable for cancer patients.

Evaluation of COVID-19 anxiety level and COVID-19 vaccine acceptance of the Turkish citizens during the pandemic period

Aim: In this work, we try to determine the effect of the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) on Turkish citizens’ anxiety levels and we try to investigate the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate among citizens. Moreover, the aforementioned two statistics are cross-correlated with each other. As final work, the reasons for the objection to the COVID-19 vaccine are observed. Method: The survey was conducted on October 5, 2020, the survey link for the research was made available for participation to all adults aged 18 and over throughout Turkey through various media channels and social media platforms (WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook). Data was collected via an online survey for 27 days, and the target sample was reached using the snowball method, concluding data collection on November 1, 2020. The survey data is analyzed by the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) programs. Results: The mean age was 36.47 ± 12 years and 62% (1260) were women of the 2032 participants. COVID-19 vaccine behavior (COVID-B) was reported as 3.52 ± 1.0 (min 1, max5). 51.3% of the respondents were positive for the vaccination. 20.9% of the participants were completely positive for the vaccination. The most relevant (with 27.9%) reason for the hesitation is the safety of the vaccination. Furthermore, vaccine positivity was reported as proportional to the safety concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic (r = 236). Conclusion: The report shows us that the rate of anxiety due to COVID-19 is related to the education level, which states that social awareness of the pandemic increased with the education level. However, there is no significant relationship between education level and COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. The most related factor to vaccine acceptance was the concern level of the people. We can say that the vaccine rate could be increased with knowledge of the pandemic.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy: assessing the prevalence, predictors, and effectiveness of a community pharmacy based counseling intervention

BackgroundCoronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine hesitancy is a global challenge. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the problem has persisted despite vaccine availability and decreasing infections. In Uganda, there is still limited information on the extent and predictors of vaccine hesitancy. This study sought to assess the prevalence and predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, and the effectiveness of an intervention that involved community pharmacy counseling in combating COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.MethodsA total of 394 participants were enrolled in a 4-week prospective cohort interventional study. The study was conducted across eight community pharmacies in Mbarara City, between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM daily. The study personnel ascertained the vaccination status of all clients seeking community pharmacy services. All unvaccinated clients were consecutively assessed for eligibility, and eligible clients were systematically enrolled after receiving the community pharmacy services for which they requested. The study intervention involved structured participant counseling (within the pharmacy premise), follow-up short message service (weekly), and telephone calls (bi-weekly). Only participants who did not accept to receive the COVID-19 vaccine despite counseling were followed up for four weeks, or until they accepted to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The effectiveness of the community pharmacy counseling intervention was determined as an increase in COVID-19 vaccine acceptance, and desirable attitudinal change towards COVID-19 disease, vaccination exercise, and vaccines. Descriptive analysis was used to summarize data, and multivariate analysis was used to determine the predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsOut of 394 participants, 221 (56%) were hesitant to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Participants expressed several reasons (mean 2±1) for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, mostly concerning vaccine safety (N=160, 47.3%). The overall COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate increased by 25.4 percent points (43.9 – 69.3 percent points) after the study intervention. Age, religion, level of education, distance from the nearest public health facility, having a friend/family diagnosed with COVID-19, and personal suspicion of contracting COVID-19 were significant predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.ConclusionCOVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is a big challenge in Uganda. A mix of sociodemographic and COVID-19 vaccine perceptions are the key predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Although COVID-19 vaccines were not available at the time of the study, this study found that structured counseling interventions can improve COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rates. Larger prospective studies should evaluate the effectiveness of similar interventions in community pharmacies and other healthcare settings.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers in Arab Countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Vaccine hesitancy is a major obstacle to the large efforts made by governments and health organizations toward achieving successful COVID-19 vaccination programs. Healthcare worker's (HCWs) acceptance or refusal of the vaccine is an influencing factor to the attitudes of their patients and general population. This study aimed to report the acceptance rates for COVID-19 vaccines among HCWs in Arab countries and identify key factors driving the attitudes of HCWs in the Arab world toward vaccines. This systematic review and meta-analysis followed the PRISMA guidelines. PubMed and Scopus databases were searched using pre-specified keywords. All cross-sectional studies that assessed COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and/or acceptance among HCWs in Arab countries until July 2022, were included. The quality of the included studies and the risk of bias was assessed using the JBI critical appraisal tool. The pooled acceptance rate of the COVID-19 vaccine was assessed using a random-effects model with a 95% confidence interval. A total of 861 articles were identified, of which, 43 were included in the study. All the studies were cross-sectional and survey-based. The total sample size was 57,250 HCWs and the acceptance rate of the COVID-19 vaccine was 60.4% (95% CI, 53.8% to 66.6%; I2, 41.9%). In addition, the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate among males was 65.4% (95% CI, 55.9% to 73.9%; I2, 0%) while among females was 48.2% (95% CI, 37.8% to 58.6%; I2, 0%). The most frequently reported factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance were being male, higher risk perception of contracting COVID-19, positive attitude toward the influenza vaccine, and higher educational level. Predictors of vaccine hesitancy most frequently included concerns about COVID-19 vaccine safety, living in rural areas, low monthly income, and fewer years of practice experience. A moderate acceptance rate of COVID-19 vaccines was reported among HCWs in the Arab World. Considering potential future pandemics, regulatory bodies should raise awareness regarding vaccine safety and efficacy and tailor their efforts to target HCWs who would consequently influence the public with their attitude towards vaccines.

Global COVID-19 vaccine acceptance level and its determinants: an umbrella review

BackgroundThe COVID-19 vaccination is essential for reducing disease burden on a worldwide scale. The success of this strategy will largely depend on how well vaccines are received. Previous reviews had produced contradictory results, and there had been no umbrella review. Therefore, the objective of this umbrella review was to combine the contradictory data regarding the COVID-19 vaccination’s global acceptance rate and its contributing factors.MethodsUsing PRISMA guideline, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Sciences, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Scopus and Google Scholar which reported COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and/or its determinants were searched. The quality of the included studies was assessed using Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR). A weighted inverse variance random-effects model was applied to find the pooled estimates. The subgroup analysis, heterogeneity, publication bias and sensitivity analysis were also assessed.ResultTwenty-two SRM with 10,433,306 study participants were included. The pooled COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate globally is found to be 60.23 (95% CI: 58.27, 62.18). In low-income countries, the pooled level of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance was found to be 54.07(50.31, 57.83) while this magnitude is 64.32 (62.24,66.40) among studies across the globe. Higher level of education (AOR =1.96; 95% CI:1.20, 2.73), good level of knowledge (2.20; 95% CI:1.36, 3.03), favourable attitude (AOR =4.50; 95% CI:2.89, 6.12), previous history of COVID-19 infection (AOR =3.41; 95% CI:1.77, 5.06), male sex (AOR =1.62; 95% CI:1.47, 1.77), and chronic disease (AOR =1.54; 95% CI:1.18, 1.90) were predictors of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance.ConclusionThe pooled level of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance highly varied and found to be unacceptably low particularly in low-income countries. Higher level of education, good level of knowledge, favourable attitude, previous history of COVID-19, male sex, and chronic disease were factors of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate. A collaborative effort of stakeholders such as policymakers, and vaccine campaign program planners is needed to improve the acceptance rate of COVID-19 vaccine.

Healthcare workers’ attitudes toward children getting Covid-19 vaccinations in Gaza Strip

Healthcare workers’ attitudes toward children getting Covid-19 vaccinations in Gaza Strip

Evaluation of willingness to obtain of Covid 19 vaccine in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Assessing vaccine willingness and understanding sources of vaccine hesitancy in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) helps healthcare providers approach patients more effectively while respecting their autonomy to encourage coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination. A descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study using a researcher-made checklist was conducted on MS patients referred to Neshat Clinic of Hamadan during the years 2020-2021. The checklist contained questions about demographic information, MS phenotype, duration of illness, expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score, and COVID-19 vaccination status. The expanded disability status scale (EDSS) is the most commonly used instrument for measuring disability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The EDSS scale ranges from 0 to 10 in increments of 0.5 units, denoting advanced points of disability. Based on the results, 20 individuals (10%) were in the vaccine non-acceptance group, while 181 individuals (90%) were in the vaccine acceptance group. A significant number of relapsing and remitting (RR) type MS patients (90.7%) and all primary progressive (PP) type MS patients (100%) accepted the vaccine. In comparison, vaccine non-acceptance in the secondary progressive (SP) group was relatively higher (20.7%) compared to other types of MS, and this difference was significant (P < 0.05). Additionally, there was a statistically significant relationship between the history of COVID-19 and vaccine acceptance (P < 0.05). The study results demonstrated a high rate of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among MS patients. MS phenotype, previous infection experiences, and other influences allow for COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among MS patients. This information can improve health programs and communication strategies for COVID-19 and future possible infectious disease vaccination in individuals with MS.

Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccination and Vaccine Hesitancy Among People with Chronic Diseases in Thailand: Role of Attitudes and Vaccine Literacy Towards Future Implications.

Vaccination is an important strategy to prevent or reduce hospitalizations and mortality caused by COVID-19 infection. However, some people with chronic diseases are hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccination. This study aimed to assess the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination and associated factors among people with chronic diseases. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between May and August 2021. A sample of 457 Thai adults living with one or more chronic diseases was drawn from a larger online survey. Participants were 19 to 89 years old. The three most commonly reported chronic diseases were hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. The acceptance rate of COVID-19 vaccination was 89.1%. Forty-six percent of respondents had received the COVID-19 vaccination, and 43.1% intended to get the vaccine. Reasons for vaccine hesitancy/refusal included concerns about adverse side effects from the vaccines including long-term effects that might complicate their disease condition. Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that having a bachelor's degree or higher [aOR 4.40; 95% CI: 2.12-9.14], being employed [aOR 2.11; 95% CI: 1.03-4.39], and having positive attitudes [aOR 2.36; 95% CI: 1.69-3.29] and negative attitudes [aOR 0.38; 95% CI: 0.27-0.55] predicted acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccination. Vaccine literacy was significantly associated with acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination in binary logistic regression analyses, but it was not retained in the multiple logistic regression model. Vaccine literacy and attitudes influence acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination in people with chronic diseases.

Perceptions of the COVID-19 Vaccine and Willingness to Receive Vaccination among Health Workers in Nigeria: A Cross-sectional Study.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is a major barrier to vaccine uptake, and the achievement of herd immunity is required to reduce morbidity and mortality and protect the most vulnerable populations. In Nigeria, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy has been high, and uptake remains very low. Healthcare workers (HCWs) in Nigeria can help support public health efforts to increase vaccine uptake. This study evaluates Nigerian HCWs' acceptance and intent to recommend the COVID-19 vaccine. Cross-sectional survey among 1,852 HCWs in primary, secondary, and tertiary care settings across Nigeria. Respondents included doctors, nurses, pharmacy workers, and clinical laboratory professionals who have direct clinical contact with patients in various healthcare settings. A 33-item questionnaire was used in the study, with two of the questions focused on the COVID-19 vaccine. The responses to the two questions were analyzed using Chi-square (c2) tests and independent t-tests to determine the acceptance of the vaccine. The majority of respondents were younger than 34 years (n = 1,227; 69.2%) and primarily worked in hospitals (n = 1,278; 72.0%). Among the respondents, 79.2% (n = 1,467) endorsed the COVID-19 vaccine as a critical tool in reducing the impact of the disease, and 76.2% (n = 1,412) will accept and recommend the vaccine to their patients. The younger HCWs were more likely to endorse and recommend the vaccine to their patients. There is a moderately high COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate among HCWs surveyed in our study. The confidence of HCWs in its use and their willingness to recommend it to their patients can provide a potentially useful element in increasing acceptance by the larger population in Nigeria.

Attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination: A cross sectional study in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria.

Vaccine acceptance is complex and context-specific, varying across time, place and perceived behavioural nature of the community involved. A high vaccine acceptance rate is important to achieve herd immunity, however, vaccine hesitancy is a possible barrier to this. This study aimed to assess attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination and associated factors. A cross-sectional survey was undertaken to investigate the attitudes of Federal Capital Territory residents towards COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Nigeria. Data were collected using questionnaires which were administered to respondents physically and online through random and snowball sampling strategies respectively. Data received were then analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). A total of 1767 responses were received with males representing 57.8% of the sample. More than half (54.9%) of the respondents were between the ages of 18-30 years. A third (35.4%) of the study participants indicated that a vaccine was not necessary for COVID-19, and 56.5% indicated willingness to accept COVID-19 vaccination. The majority of the sample (56.9%) indicated that the government decision-making was in their best interest, whilst close to two-thirds of the respondents (61%) were of the view that COVID-19 vaccination should not be made compulsory. Older respondents as represented by those over 60 years were more likely to accept COVID-19 vaccination (p = 0.039). This study however revealed negative attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination, indicating the urgent need for government, policymakers, and other stakeholders to prioritise the development of strategies that can appropriately address vaccine hesitancy in the study setting. Contextual interventions indicated include strategic public enlightenment campaigns targeting populations with less favourable dispositions towards being vaccinated.

Perception and acceptance readiness for COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria

The development of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine is widely regarded as a tremendous scientific progress. However, the level of vaccine acceptance has been a concern in Nigeria. Thus, we conducted a study to analyze the perception and acceptance readiness for COVID-19 vaccine among Nigerians, yielding analysis data that could inform policy for raising the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate. A total of 302 respondents were surveyed in this cross-sectional study to explore their perception and acceptance readiness for COVID-19 vaccine. A total score of &amp;le;14 was considered having negative perception of COVID-19 vaccine whereas a score &gt;14 was regarded as having positive perception. Most respondents (71.2%) had a negative perception of the vaccine. The majority of these respondents (96.7%) had not been vaccinated, out of which 46.6% claimed to be willing to take the vaccines if they were provided free of charge, while 15.1% expressed their willingness to be vaccinated even if payment was required. There was no variable associated with readiness or non-readiness to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Major reasons for non-readiness include doubt about the vaccine authenticity/safety/effectiveness (59.2%), low level of trust in the government (12.6%), and fear of side effects (10.7%). In conclusion, to boost the COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Nigeria, both governmental and non-governmental bodies should participate in continuous public engagement to assure the public that the vaccine is safe and effective.

Acceptance of the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine among General Men and Men with a Same-Sex Orientation and Its Influencing Factors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine reduces the prevalence of genital warts and the cancers they are associated with in males. However, the vaccination of males has always been neglected. Here, we performed a meta-analysis to comprehend the acceptability of the HPV vaccine in men and the factors impacting vaccination intentions. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Ovid, CNKI, and Wan Fang up to 5 July 2023 for studies that reported HPV vaccine acceptance among men. A random effects model was used to obtain the pooled acceptance rate, and subgroup analysis was performed. Then, the influencing factors of HPV vaccination in males were analyzed. A total of 57 studies with 32,962 samples were included in the analysis. The overall acceptance rate of the HPV vaccine in general men was 47.04% (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 39.23-54.93%), and 62.23% (95% CI: 52.93-71.10%) among those whose sexual orientation contained men. HPV vaccine acceptance rates differed significantly between the two populations (p = 0.01). The population with a medical background (46.23%, 95% CI: 40.28-52.24%) was more willing to be vaccinated. In comparison to the employed population (66.93%, 95% CI: 48.79-82.81%) and the unemployed (68.44%, 95% CI: 52.82-82.23%), vaccination acceptance rates were lower among students (47.35%, 95% CI: 37.00-57.81%) (p = 0.04). The most significant barriers to vaccination were perceived low risk of infection for themselves (45.91%, 95% CI: 31.73-60.43%), followed by vaccine cost (43.46%, 95% CI: 31.20-56.13%). Moreover, the recommendations from medical professionals (60.90%, 95%CI: 44.23-76.37%) and sexual partners (60.09%, 95%CI: 27.11-88.67%) were significant factors in promoting vaccination. Overall, acceptance of the HPV vaccine among general men was at a lower level, despite being slightly higher among men with a same-sex orientation. Popularizing knowledge about diseases and vaccines, encouraging medical professionals to recommend vaccines to men, or reducing the cost of vaccines may promote HPV vaccination.

A knowledge and preventive approach to COVID-19 and vaccination acceptance among Afghan immigrants in Iran

PurposeConsidering the importance of knowledge, attitudes and practice (KAP) in communities toward COVID-19 and the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination in the control of this disease, this study aims to evaluate and compare the KAP level toward COVID-19 and the acceptance rate of COVID-19 vaccination between the Afghan immigrant population and IraniansDesign/methodology/approachThis cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 2021 on Afghan immigrants, Afghan-neighboring Iranians and Afghan nonneighboring Iranians. Of the 885 people who participated in the survey, 295 from each group were randomly selected. Data collection tools were the following questionnaires: KAP toward COVID-19 and acceptance and attitude toward COVID-19 vaccination.FindingsA total of 837 participants were included for data analysis. According to the findings, the KAP score on COVID-19 in Afghan immigrants was lower than the group of Iranians. Compared with Iranians, the score of nonneighboring Iranians was higher than the neighboring Iranians with Afghan immigrants. This difference in the mean scores suggests a statistically significant difference in the three groups (p < 0.0001). Among demographic data, the relationship between gender, education, type of job, income level and age with KAP indicated a significant difference in the total population studied. In the group of Afghan immigrants, the most likely reason for accepting the vaccination was the employer’s recommendation (55.63%). In comparison, the neighboring and nonneighboring Iranian groups with Afghan immigrants stated that they would receive the vaccine as soon as possible (49.22% and 63.22%, respectively).Originality/valueConsidering the low KAP score in the immigrant population in this study, these people are more vulnerable to the health and socioeconomic effects of COVID-19; therefore, the host countries have more challenges and responsibilities to protect these populations.

COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance in Pregnant Women in the United States: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: Pregnant women are vulnerable to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) complications, yet may hesitate to get vaccinated. It is important to identify racial/ethnic and other individual characteristics associated with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in the United States during pregnancy. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science for articles published through January 2023 for keywords/terms related to immunization, COVID-19, and pregnancy, and performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine characteristics associated with vaccine acceptance. Results: Of 1,592 articles, 23 met inclusion criteria (focused on pregnant women in the United States, and their willingness or hesitation to vaccinate). Twenty-two of the studies examined receipt of ≥1 COVID-19 vaccine dose and/or intention to vaccinate, while one examined vaccine hesitancy. Vaccine acceptance rates ranged from 7% to 78.3%. Meta-analyses demonstrated that compared with Whites, Hispanics (odds ratios [OR] 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.58-0.91) and Blacks (OR 0.44; 95% CI 0.30-0.63) had less COVID-19 vaccine acceptance, while Asians (OR 1.78; 95% CI 1.10-2.88) had greater vaccine acceptance. College graduation or more (OR 3.25; 95% CI 2.53-4.17), receipt or intention to receive the influenza vaccine (OR 3.46; 95% CI 2.22-5.41), and at least part-time employment (OR 2.12; 95% CI 1.66-2.72) were significantly associated with vaccine acceptance. Conclusions: COVID-19 vaccine nonacceptance in pregnant women is associated with Hispanic ethnicity and Black race, while acceptance is associated with Asian race, college education or more, at least part-time employment, and acceptance of the influenza vaccine. Future COVID-19 vaccination campaigns can target identified subgroups of pregnant women who are less likely to accept vaccination.