Mejri N, Berrazega Y, Ouertani E, Rachdi H, Bohli M, Kochbati L, Boussen H. Understanding COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and resistance: another challenge in cancer patients.
Support Care Cancer 2022;
30:289-293. [PMID:
34279721 PMCID:
PMC8286987 DOI:
10.1007/s00520-021-06419-y]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
We aimed to measure the acceptability towards the COVID-19 vaccination in cancer patients and to investigate determinant factors associated with the patient's choice.
METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional survey with a self-administered questionnaire delivered to 329 cancer patients in 3 oncology cancer centers in Tunisia between February-May 2021. Logistic regression was used to evaluate odds ratio predicting patient's intentions toward the vaccine.
RESULTS
Acceptance rate was 50.5%, 28.3% (n = 93) reported to definitely refuse the vaccine and 21.2% (n = 70) did not make their decision yet. High educational level, history of comorbidities, history of influenza vaccination in the current season, and patient's opinion about the severity of COVID-19 did not predict vaccine resistance. However, patients who think that the vaccine may interfere with treatment efficacy (OR = 7.28, 95%CI [2.5-12.32]), or may impact cancer outcome (OR = 6.14, 95%CI [2.27-16.7]), were significantly more likely to refuse the vaccine. Patients who disagree that the vaccine is a major weapon against the pandemic (OR = 6.07, 95%CI [2.34-9.52]) or that it could reduce the virus transmission (OR = 7.34, 95%CI [4.22-11.81]) were also significantly more likely to reject the vaccination. Safety concerns were also significant predictive factors (OR = 7.9, 95%CI [4.10-11.27]. Confidence level in the authorities played a significant role in patient's acceptance of the vaccine, indeed patients who are not registered (OR = 5.9, 95%CI [1.58-8.7]) or not informed about the Tunisian national vaccination platform EVAX (OR = 5.51, 95%CI [2.1-7.9]) were more likely to be against the vaccine.
CONCLUSION
Cancer patient's education about the impact of the vaccine on their disease and on the COVID-19 is needed. Governments should build strategies to gain more population confidence.
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