COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy among healthcare workers in South Africa

Wiysonge, Charles Shey; Alobwede, Samuel Muabe; Katoto, Patrick D. M. C.; Kidzeru, Elvis B.; Lumngwena, Evelyn Ngwa; Cooper, Sara; Goliath, René; Jackson, Amanda; Shey, Muki

doi:10.1080/14760584.2022.2023355

Cited by 61 publications

(94 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…Overall, the COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy levels in our study were higher than those that have been reported in studies conducted among HCWs in HICs (i.e., France, United States, Qatar) [ 31 , 34 , 35 , 36 ] but lower than findings reported in studies from Africa (i.e., Ethiopia, Nigeria, and South Africa) [ 28 , 37 , 38 , 39 ]. The difference in COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy levels between our study and previous African studies may be due to how COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was measured, study populations and differences in study periods, as well as the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the study populations.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 85%

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Healthcare Workers and Trainees in Freetown, Sierra Leone: A Cross-Sectional Study

et al. 2022

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Despite having safe and efficacious vaccines against COVID-19, vaccine hesitancy is widespread. Although a trusted source of information, vaccine hesitancy has been reported among healthcare professionals, yet few studies have explored this phenomenon in sub-Saharan Africa. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of healthcare professionals in Sierra Leone from January to March 2022. Measures included sociodemographic/health-related information and COVID-19-related concerns. From the responses, we constructed a hesitancy (VAX) score, with higher scores implying negative attitudes or unwillingness to vaccinate. Multivariate linear regression was used to access factors associated with vaccine hesitancy. Overall, 592 participants submitted responses (67.2% female, mean age 29 years, 5.6% physicians/pharmacists, 44.3% medical students, 29.2% nurses, 20.9% nursing students). The mean VAX score was 43.27 ± 8.77, with 60.1% of respondents classified as vaccine hesitant (>50th percentile) and 11.5% as highly hesitant (>75th percentile). Worries about unforeseen future effects (76.3%), a preference for natural immunity (59.5%), and profiteering/mistrust of health authorities (53.1%) were the most common concerns. Being a medical student (β = 0.105, p = 0.011) and previously refusing a recommended vaccine (β = 0.177, p < 0.001) were predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Our findings call for addressing vaccine hesitancy among healthcare professionals as an essential component of strategies aimed at increasing COVID-19 vaccine uptake in this setting.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 85%

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Healthcare Workers and Trainees in Freetown, Sierra Leone: A Cross-Sectional Study

et al. 2022

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“…Previous studies have shown high levels of vaccine hesitancy in South Africa [9, 13, 43]. These high levels of are most likely to be driven by multiple factors including personal, interpersonal, community, and social.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Community-based Case Studies of Vaccine Hesitancy and the COVID-19 Response in South Africa; The VaxScenes Study

Wiysonge

Coulson

Pillay

et al. 2022

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Background South Africa has reported more than half of all COVID-19 cases and deaths in Africa. The South African government has launched a large COVID-19 immunization campaign with the goal of reaching more than 40 million individuals. Nonetheless, certain international, largely internet-based surveys have shown a significant proportion of vaccine hesitancy in South Africa. This study aims to determine and co-create with local stakeholders a comprehensive understanding of vaccine hesitancy and opportunities to support the promotion of other COVID-19 health-promoting behaviours at community level. Methods and design A mixed-methods, multiple case-study design; informed by the socio-ecological model of behaviour change. Four socio-economically diverse communities across South Africa will be selected and data collection will take place concurrently through three iterative phases. Phase 1 will provide insights into community experiences of COVID-19 (response) through desktop mapping exercises, observations, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions (FGDs) designed as expression sessions with local stakeholders. Phase 2 will explore the extent and drivers of community acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines. This phase will comprise a quantitative survey based on WHO’s Behavioural and Social Drivers of Vaccination tool as well as further FGDs with community members. Phase 3 will involve cross-case study syntheses and presentation of findings to national role-players. Discussion This study will provide ground up, locally responsive, and timeous evidence on the factors influencing COVID-19 health-seeking behaviours to inform ongoing management and mitigation of COVID-19 in South Africa. It will also provide insights into the applicability of a novel vaccine hesitancy model in Africa.

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“…The validation of the 5C tool and questionnaire for use in our setting is a subject of another manuscript currently in preparation. The detailed questionnaire employed in the study can be seen in Supplementary Table S1 as well as in our previous publication [ 19 ]. Participants had to sign consent before attempting the questionnaires either as hard copies or the online form.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There are reports showing that influenza vaccination both protects against influenza and reduces the risk of COVID-19 infection, suggesting immune cross-protection between influenza vaccination and COVID-19 to an extent [ 16 , 17 , 18 ]. Therefore, increasing HCWs’ flu vaccination may provide benefits, especially during this period of relatively high vaccine hesitancy towards COVID-19 vaccination and especially among HCWs [ 19 ]. Moreover, there is no clarity on the association between influenza vaccination and COVID-19 infection.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influenza Vaccination Uptake and Hesitancy among Healthcare Workers in Early 2021 at the Start of the COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout in Cape Town, South Africa

et al. 2022

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Vaccination attitudes among healthcare workers (HCWs) predict their level of vaccination uptake and intention to recommend vaccinations to their patients. To our knowledge, no study has been conducted in South Africa to assess hesitancy toward influenza vaccines among HCWs. We adapted a questionnaire developed and validated by Betsch and colleagues and used it to conduct online and face-to-face interviews among HCWs at the start of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess predictors of influenza vaccine hesitancy. Of 401 participants, 64.5% were women, 49.2% were nurses, and 12.5% were physicians. A total of 54.9% were willing to accept, 20.4% were undecided, and 24.7% intended to refuse influenza vaccination. Participants who were above 25 years of age and physicians were more likely to accept the vaccine. Key predictors of vaccine acceptance were confidence in the effectiveness, consideration of benefits and risks, and willingness to be vaccinated to protect others. Influenza vaccine hesitancy was highest in those who did not trust that influenza vaccines are safe. For future flu seasons, tailored education programs on the safety and effectiveness of flu vaccines targeting younger HCWs, could be vital to improving vaccine uptake.

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COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy among healthcare workers in South Africa

Cited by 61 publications

References 43 publications

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Healthcare Workers and Trainees in Freetown, Sierra Leone: A Cross-Sectional Study

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Healthcare Workers and Trainees in Freetown, Sierra Leone: A Cross-Sectional Study

Community-based Case Studies of Vaccine Hesitancy and the COVID-19 Response in South Africa; The VaxScenes Study

Influenza Vaccination Uptake and Hesitancy among Healthcare Workers in Early 2021 at the Start of the COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout in Cape Town, South Africa

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