COVID-19 Vaccine Willingness and Related Factors Among Health Care Workers in 3 Southeast Asian Jurisdictions

Abstract

IMPORTANCE COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is widespread and may lead to refusal or delay of vaccination, eventually reducing the overall vaccination coverage rate and vaccine effectiveness. Willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccination among health care workers (HCWs) is diverse across different jurisdictions. OBJECTIVE To assess the COVID-19 vaccine willingness among HCWs in 3 Southeast Asian jurisdictions in the context of pandemic severity and vaccination policy. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among frontline HCWs in Hong Kong, Nepal, and Vietnam from May to November 2021. Eligible participants were nurses and doctors aged 18 and older, working in public or private health care settings on a full-time or part-time basis. EXPOSURES The COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination policy. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES COVID-19 vaccination willingness was defined as HCW willingness toward receiving the COVID-19 vaccine in full course or the first dose of the vaccine, and willingness to take the second dose. Information on sociodemographic characteristics, the history of seasonal influenza vaccination, attitudes toward vaccination, and opinions on strategies associated with vaccination uptake from the study participants.RESULTS Among the 3396 eligible doctors and nurses who participated in the survey, 2834 (83.4%) were from Hong Kong, 328 (9.7%) were from Nepal, and 234 (6.9%) were from Vietnam. Most respondents were female (76.2% [2589 ]), aged 30 to 39 years (31.2% [1058]), and nurse HCWs (77.6% [2636]); the response rates were 11% (2834 of 25 000) in Hong Kong, 36% (328 of 900) in Nepal, and 13% (234 of 1800) in Vietnam. Overall, the prevalence rate of willingness to take the COVID-19 vaccine was highest in Nepal (95.4% [313 of 328]), followed by Vietnam (90.6% [212 of 234]), and lowest in Hong Kong (54.4% [1542 of 2834]), relating to their different attitudes and opinions toward the COVID-19 vaccination, and the pandemic severity and vaccination policy in the 3 jurisdictions. Doctors were more willing to take COVID-19 vaccination than nurses (odds ratio, 5.28; 95% CI, 3.96-7.04). Older age (odds ratios, 1.39-3.70), male gender (odds ratio, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.11-1.75), higher educational level (odds ratio, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.17-1.87), and having seasonal influenza vaccination uptake history (odds ratio, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.82-2.54) were found to be associated with increased willingness. Choice of vaccination brand with adequate information, immunity passport, time off from work for vaccination and subsidy for travel to inconvenient vaccination centers were considered as strategies to enhance vaccine willingness.

Willingness of Healthcare Workers to Recommend or Receive a Third COVID-19 Vaccine Dose: A Cross-Sectional Study from Jordan

“…The physicians in this study were more willing to receive the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine when compared with pharmacists and nurses, similar to the results reported in previous studies [ 9 , 27 , 50 , 51 , 52 ]. For example, results from Greece show that 60–90% of physicians were willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, compared to 40–60% of nurses [ 53 ].…”

“…COVID-19 vaccine unwillingness can be a major barrier to achieving sufficient vaccine coverage to contain the pandemic [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]. On the other hand, COVID-19 vaccination willingness among HCWs is defined as their willingness to receive a full dose of vaccination or take the first or second COVID-19 vaccine [ 8 , 9 ]. Recently, the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants, including the B.1.617.2 (delta) and the B.1.1.529 (omicron) variants, has necessitated a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to decrease the associated morbidity and mortality rates [ 10 , 11 ].…”

Willingness to COVID-19 vaccination: Empirical evidence from EU

“…These three variables act as a proxy for controlling medical history of the respondents. Evidence shows that medical history in terms of diseases including COVID-19 play a crucial role in determining WTV among individuals [ 47 ]. Considering gender, we take into account the medical evidence that COVID-19 is more infectious to men as compared to women [ 48 , 49 ].…”

Vaccination willingness, vaccine hesitancy, and estimated coverage of SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccine among healthcare workers in Tanzania: A call for action

“…The higher levels of education contributed to a better understanding and trust in scientific methods rather than beliefs in conspiracy theories. 7,25,57 This finding suggests the need to provide targeted education and information to HCWs with a lower level of education to address their concerns and fears and enhance SARS-CoV-2 vaccine willingness. 58 Nurses were more willing to take the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine than other HCWs.…”