Qatar Healthcare Workers' COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Attitudes: A National Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Introduction: Healthcare workers are the critical frontline workforce of the COVD-19 pandemic and are considered a target group for vaccination. Hesitancy to vaccinate is a major concern that can jeopardize the vaccination programme. The hesitancy rates in the general population and healthcare workers (HCWs) vary globally, and more importantly, hesitancy in HCWs is of particular concern, as it can influence the wider population.Materials and Methods: The present study evaluated the vaccine hesitancy rate and its sociodemographic and attitudinal factors among the HCWs in the state of Qatar. We conducted a national cross-sectional survey using a validated hesitancy measurement tool between October 15 and November 15, 2020. A total of 7,821 adults above the age of 18 years out of the 2.3 million adult Qatari residents completed the survey. While majority of the participants were from the general public, 1,546 participants were HCWs. Sociodemographic data, along with attitudes and beliefs around COVID-19 vaccination, were collected from the respondents.Results: We found that 12.9% of the study participants showed vaccine hesitancy, defined as definitely or probably will not take the vaccine if offered, and 25.31% reported that they were unsure about the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine. Female respondents were more hesitant toward the vaccine. Safety and efficacy concerns of vaccine were the significant predictors of vaccine hesitancy. The primary predictor for vaccine acceptance was a better understanding of the disease and vaccine.Discussion: Overall, 1 in 8 HCWs were reluctant to get vaccinated against COVID-19, mainly due to concerns about the vaccine's efficacy and safety. Education about the vaccine's safety and efficacy can potentially improve acceptance among healthcare workers.

Understanding national trends in COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Canada: results from five sequential cross-sectional representative surveys spanning April 2020–March 2021

“…However, our results do seem to be in line with US data from a survey of 16 970 employed adults in the USA showing that those working in essential service sectors (ie, leisure and hospitality, manufacturing, construction, retail, transportation, and food and beverage) had the highest rates of vaccine hesitancy (45%–54%) compared with non-essential sectors like technology (25%), financial services (26%), public administration (36%) and entertainment (37%) 51. Our finding of high vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers is also consistent with other studies both within52 and outside53–55 of Canada. Though we were not able to determine what types of healthcare workers are more likely to be vaccine hesitant, data from previous reports suggests this is more common among female healthcare workers,52 53 56 as well as nurses and paramedical professionals rather than physicians or health administrators 54–56.…”

Infection and vaccination status of COVID-19 among healthcare professionals in academic platform: Prevision vs. reality of Bangladesh context

“…In addition, male respondents were more likely to be non-vaccinated. This study finding contradict with many of article, which says that female respondents were more reluctant toward the vaccine where safety and efficacy concerns of vaccine were the significant predictors of vaccine hesitancy [17]. Allied health professionals and respondents from the public organizations were found to be significant predictor for non-vaccinated in this PLOS ONE pandemic.…”

Comparing the Attitude toward the COVID-19 and the 2020/21 and 2019/20 Flu Vaccination Campaigns among Italian Healthcare Workers

“…Of the 1546 participants of a study conducted among Qatari HCWs, 61% reported to receive flu vaccine annually, and more than 60% referred chronic conditions, though only 12% of those in the hesitant group reported any. In this study, female sex and concern on safety and effectiveness of the vaccine were predictors of hesitancy, while chronic conditions were not [10]. A survey of 13,462 people from 19 countries reported high rates of willingness to be administered the COVID-19 vaccine, with 46.8% of the participants completely agreeing and 24.7% of them somewhat agreeing overall; in this survey, Italy registered 70.8% of positive responses [12].…”

“…Women were more likely to report conditions, and physicians were less likely to report them. Most of the available studies reported results based on surveys investigating hesitancy before COVID-19 vaccination uptake [7][8][9][10][11][12][13], while our analysis is based on multiple real-time surveys obtained through the forms compiled on the very day of the vaccination.…”

“…More recent studies indicate 70% as the threshold for heard immunity [14]. Different surveys collected data on the intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, with refusal rates between 10% and 23% among HCWs and students [9][10][11]. Of the 1546 participants of a study conducted among Qatari HCWs, 61% reported to receive flu vaccine annually, and more than 60% referred chronic conditions, though only 12% of those in the hesitant group reported any.…”