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Urueña A, Machado R, Cunha J, López Colmano C, Rancaño C, Kfouri R, Pírez C, Bonvehí P, Calvo M, Cuadros R, Muñoz G, Rodríguez M, Torres J, Cahn F, Ballalai I. Opinions, Attitudes and Factors Related to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Uptake in Eight South American Countries. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1660. [PMID: 38005992 PMCID: PMC10675814 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11111660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
This article presents attitudes and practices regarding COVID-19 vaccination in the South American population. The study collected data from a self-administered survey distributed through social media platforms between February and April 2022 (N = 6555). The survey included questions related to participants' sociodemographic background, flu vaccination practices, sources of information about COVID-19, and opinions regarding pandemic management and vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. The respondents agreed with the statement that COVID-19 vaccines were necessary (86.4%), effective (79.8%), safe (79.1%), and should be mandatory (64%). Overall, 83.4% accepted vaccination and 12.3% refused it completely. Main rejection reasons were safety (65.8%) and efficacy (54.9%) issues, and rushed development and approvals (49.1%). Vaccine uptake was associated with being ≥60 years, being a healthcare worker, previous influenza vaccine uptake, adherence to preventive measures, the death of ≥1 close people from COVID-19, and being informed through mass media or health authorities' channels. Vaccine uptake inversely correlated with male gender, low educational level, and use of closed social networks for COVID-19 information purposes. This study provides valuable insights into COVID-19 vaccination attitudes and practices in South America that may be used to promote vaccine uptake in the region. Higher COVID-19 vaccination acceptance among people with previously acquired prevention habits reinforces the importance of routine health promotion strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Analía Urueña
- Centro de Estudios para la Prevención y Control de Enfermedades Transmisibles, Universidad Isalud, Venezuela 931, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1095AAS, Argentina
- Sociedad Argentina de Vacunología y Epidemiología (SAVE), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ricardo Machado
- Sociedade Brasileira de Imunizações (Sbim), R. Luís Coelho, 308-Consolação, São Paulo 01309-000, SP, Brazil (I.B.)
| | - Juarez Cunha
- Sociedade Brasileira de Imunizações (Sbim), R. Luís Coelho, 308-Consolação, São Paulo 01309-000, SP, Brazil (I.B.)
| | - Clara López Colmano
- Sociedad Argentina de Vacunología y Epidemiología (SAVE), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carolina Rancaño
- Sociedad Argentina de Vacunología y Epidemiología (SAVE), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Renato Kfouri
- Sociedade Brasileira de Imunizações (Sbim), R. Luís Coelho, 308-Consolação, São Paulo 01309-000, SP, Brazil (I.B.)
| | - Catalina Pírez
- Sociedad Uruguaya de Pediatría, Comité de Infectología y Vacunas, Lord Ponsonby 2410, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay
| | - Pablo Bonvehí
- Sociedad Argentina de Vacunología y Epidemiología (SAVE), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Servicio de Infectología, Hospital Universitario CEMIC, Dr. Ricardo Balbín 4459, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1430ABC, Argentina
| | - Mario Calvo
- Instituto de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Austral de Chile, Coronel Santiago Bueras 1003, Valdivia 5110566, Chile;
| | - Robinson Cuadros
- Asociación Internacional de Gerontología y Geriatría, Comité Latinoamericano y del Caribe, Carrera 7C Bis 139-17, Bogotá 110121, Colombia;
| | - Greta Muñoz
- Sociedad Ecuatoriana de Pediatría (SEP), Av. Naciones Unidas E2-17 e, Quito 170135, Ecuador
| | - Mónica Rodríguez
- Hospital Central, Instituto de Previsión Social, PCH9+4RX, Santísimo Sacramento, Asunción 1519, Paraguay
| | - Jaime Torres
- Sección de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas 1040, Venezuela
| | - Florencia Cahn
- Sociedad Argentina de Vacunología y Epidemiología (SAVE), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Isabella Ballalai
- Sociedade Brasileira de Imunizações (Sbim), R. Luís Coelho, 308-Consolação, São Paulo 01309-000, SP, Brazil (I.B.)
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