Vaccination Confidence among Healthcare Workers: Results from Two Anamnestic Questionnaires Adopted in the COVID-19 and Influenza Campaign

COVID-19 vaccine uptake, barriers and associated factors among healthcare workers in Malawi

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic led to an urgent need for a global vaccine. Despite being a priority group, the vaccine uptake among healthcare workers (HCWs) remains low.

Aim

This article assessed the COVID-19 vaccine uptake and its associated barriers in Malawi.

Setting

A cross-sectional study was conducted among HCWs in Malawi's Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu districts from 11 April 2023 to 14 April 2023.

Methods

Proportionally distributed among various cadres, 200 participants were randomly selected. A structured questionnaire was administered, assessing HCWs' uptake, willingness, attitudes and barriers to COVID-19 vaccines. Data were managed in REDCap and analysed using STATA version 14. Frequencies and percentages were computed. Variables with p-value ≤ 0.25 were included in the multivariable modified passion model.

Results

A total of 175 (88%) participants received a single-dose vaccine, while only 11.5% received a booster. Vaccine uptake was associated with age groups 25-34 years (aPR = 2.35, 95% CI: 1.21, 4.60) and 35-44 years (aPR = 2.30, 95% CI: 1.18, 4.50), being a nurse/midwife (aPR = 0.86, CI: 0.74, 0.99) and laboratory personnel (aPR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.74, 0.99). Unvaccinated HCWs were concerned about vaccine side effects and lacked trust in the development process.

Conclusion

Issues of vaccine safety, side effects and lack of trust in the vaccine should be addressed. Promoting awareness of vaccine development and benefits, targeting all age groups and cadres, is required among HCWs.

Contribution

The findings can be utilised to develop specific interventions on age and cadre to promote vaccine acceptance among HCWs, in countries with similar contextual settings to Malawi.

A systematic review of measures of healthcare workers' vaccine confidence

Healthcare workers (HCW) perceptions toward vaccines influence patient and community vaccine decision making. In an era of rising vaccine hesitancy, understanding HCW vaccine confidence is critical. This systematic review aims to review instruments that have been validated to measure HCW vaccine confidence. We conducted a search in five databases in June 2023. Data was descriptively synthesized. Twelve articles describing 10 different tools were included. Most tools included dimensions or items on vaccine knowledge (n = 9), safety (n = 8), vaccine usefulness (n = 8), recommendation behavior (n = 8), and self-vaccination practice (n = 7). All, except one study, were conducted in high-income countries. There was variability in the quality of the validation process. There is limited existing literature on development and validation of tools for HCW vaccine confidence. Based on the tools currently available, the Pro-VC-Be tool is the most well validated. Further research needs to include low- and middle-income contexts.

Special Issue: Challenges and Future Trends of COVID-19 Vaccination

During the COVID-19 pandemic, over 13 [...].

Attitudes toward influenza vaccination in healthcare workers in Italy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are among the at-risk groups for whom influenza vaccination is strongly recommended. To assess the proportion of Italian HCWs with positive attitudes toward influenza vaccination, we conducted a systematic review of relevant literature and a meta-analysis. Our focus was on the influenza seasons from 2017/18 to 2021/22. The prevalence of favorable attitudes toward vaccination varied, ranging from 12% during the 2017/18 influenza season to 59% in the 2020/21 season. The significant increase in the 2020/21 season can be attributed to adaptations necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. During the 2021/22 influenza season, there was a decline in vaccination coverage (37%), likely due to the absence of a robust preventive culture. Various strategies have been employed to enhance HCWs' attitudes to achieve higher vaccination rates, but none of them have demonstrated satisfactory results. Policymakers should consider implementing a policy of mandatory vaccination to ensure elevated vaccination coverage among HCWs.