Healthcare workers’ perceptions and attitudes towards the UK’s COVID-19 vaccination programme: a rapid qualitative appraisal

Abstract

ObjectivesWhile there is research relating to perceptions of vaccines among healthcare workers (HCWs), the evidence base in relation to COVID-19 remains limited. The aim of this study was to explore HCWs’ perceptions and attitudes towards vaccines and the COVID-19 vaccination programme in the UK, including their expectations and views on promoting vaccination to others.DesignThis study was designed as a rapid qualitative appraisal, integrating data from a review of UK policies and guidance on COVID-19 vaccination with data from in-depth semistructured telephone interviews with frontline HCWs in the UK. Data were analysed using framework analysis.ParticipantsInterviews were carried out with a purposive sample of HCWs from two large London-based hospital Trusts (n=24) and 24 government policies, and guidelines on the vaccination programme were reviewed.ResultsThe level of uncertainty about the long-term safety of vaccines and efficacy against mutant strains made it difficult for HCWs to balance the benefits against the risks of vaccination. HCWs felt that government decisions on vaccine rollout had not been supported by evidence-based science, and this impacted their level of trust and confidence in the programme. The spread of misinformation online also impacted HCWs’ attitudes towards vaccination, particularly among junior level and black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) HCWs. Most HCWs felt encouraged to promote vaccination to their patients, and the majority said they would advocate vaccination or engage in conversations about vaccination with others when relevant.ConclusionIn order to improve HCWs’ trust and confidence in the UK’s COVID-19 vaccination programme, there needs to be clarity about what is known and not known about the vaccines and transparency around the evidence-base supporting government decisions on vaccine rollout. Effort is also needed to dispel the spread of vaccine-related misinformation online and to address specific concerns, particularly among BAME and junior-level HCWs.

Dynamics of Covid-19 Vaccine-Hesitancy among Primary Health Care Workers in an Urban City in India

“…The safety issue of vaccine along with historical perceptions of childhood vaccinations such as polio, propagated by misinformation through the social media may have had an impact on early acceptance of vaccines in our study participants. Similar findings were also reported in a qualitative study in UK [17], where misinformation about the Covid-19 vaccine impacted HCWs' attitude towards Covid-19 vaccination.…”

Unintended Consequences of Communicating Rapid COVID-19 Vaccine Policy Changes– A qualitative study of health policy communication in Ontario, Canada

“…This risk, that confusion will fuel vaccine hesitancy, means that policymakers must scrutinize COVID-19 vaccine policy updates and communication strategies to optimize message consistency and explain with candor and empathy the actions being taken to reduce uncertainty (23). Clarity around the rationale for policy change was felt to be needed by HCP too, a nding that resonates with other studies that have similarly demonstrated policy in uences clinical practice, HCP wellbeing and patient trust (24,25). Their perception was public trust in them as HCP, and COVID-19 vaccines was eroded by constantly tweaked recommendations and the lack of clarity about when new policy directives could be implemented.…”

“…Frontline healthcare providers gave stark commentaries about the emotional burden of delivering vaccination programs in busy environments where increasingly complicated and constantly changing policy became an additional stressor rather than a lever to enact equitable vaccine provision. How HCP experience policy changes is an essential point because of their pivotal role in in uencing patients' vaccination choices (25,32,33). Individuals involved in the on-the-ground vaccine rollout need time to understand to changes, translate and adapt operations, and adjust communication-all before facing patients.…”

Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccination Intention among Health Care Workers in France: A Qualitative Study

“…However, conducting our study before the introduction of mandatory vaccination for HCWs certainly allowed for better identification of the determinants of vaccination intention. To our knowledge, few qualitative studies have contributed to the identification of the determinants of vaccination intention in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic among a key population such as HCWs [ 64 , 65 ]. Our study highlights the influence of the global environment on vaccination intention and underlines the need to implement systemic measures adapted to local specificities.…”