Qualitative examination of the attitudes of healthcare workers in Turkey regarding COVID‐19 vaccines

Abstract

Purpose The attitudes of healthcare workers toward COVID‐19 vaccines ensure that health services are able to run without interruption and potentially have a role in the messaging about vaccination that they convey to the public. Hence, healthcare workers’ attitudes ultimately have a significant role in controlling the pandemic. This study aimed to qualitatively investigate the attitudes of healthcare workers in Turkey in relation to COVID‐19 vaccines. Methods The study used the phenomenological approach. The sample consisted of 36 healthcare workers who were employed during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Data were collected online using focus group interviews. A total of four focus group interviews were conducted. Findings Following analysis of the data, the attitudes of healthcare workers in Turkey toward the COVID‐19 vaccine were divided into three themes: “influencing factors,” “priority group” and “trust.” Conclusions Vaccination was found to create negative emotions among some of the healthcare workers. Their opinions about the COVID‐19 vaccines were affected by the negative emotions and burnout they experienced during the pandemic. In addition, they saw the vaccination process as impacted by contraindications and uncertainty about the duration of the protection, the balance of the benefits and harm of the vaccines, and by vaccine myths and prejudices about the country where the vaccine was developed. Healthcare professionals expressed the need for trust to be established in the whole vaccination process. They suggested that different vaccine options should be offered, that the appointment and process notification system for vaccination should be improved, that evidence‐based information about vaccines should be provided and that a safe environment should be created. Practice Implications Vaccine hesitancy can be addressed by careful attention to the application of vaccination programs, correct and effective use of social media, transparent, and precise management of political processes, and the provision of evidence‐based information about the vaccines.

COVID-19 Vaccination Hesitancy among Healthcare Workers—A Review

“…Some may have also incorrectly categorized the vaccine as "experimental" and may feel that their receipt of the vaccine post-approval is participation in an ongoing experiment [231,232] even though monitoring of adverse events continues after FDA approval (known as Phase IV) is a standard procedure for all pharmaceuticals. A small number of HCWs also subscribed to fringe or conspiracy theories about COVID-19, including that COVID-19 is a hoax [110].…”

“…Finally, although HCWs are often seen as distinct from the general public, they are susceptible to the same emotions, biases, concerns, and assumptions that the general population has. A survey of HCWs in Turkey in January 2021 noted some respondents expressing feelings of anxiety, hopelessness, and helplessness regarding the pandemic and issues around vaccination [232]. Stresses from the pandemic, both professionally and personally, may lead to burnout and possibly higher rates of complacency regarding health-protective measures.…”

Information Framing Effect on Public’s Intention to Receive the COVID-19 Vaccination in China

“…A study about parental acceptability of COVID-19 vaccination for children shows that longer protection duration of vaccine-associated with higher parental acceptability of COVID-19 vaccination [35]. The uncertainty of the duration of protection has caused the hesitation of healthcare workers to be vaccinated [36]. How long the duration of protection is acceptable needs to be further explored.…”

Pediatric healthcare professionals' opinions, attitudes, and vaccine hesitancy toward personal and children’s COVID-19 vaccination

“…Another study reported that safety of vaccines influenced willingness to be vaccinated [29]. Studies have also shown that vaccine hesitancy may be influenced by several other factors, including the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines globally, thinking that vaccines have not been used and tested for a sufficient period of time, thinking that a new vaccine is not needed, and limited public knowledge and misinformation [3,30].…”

“…This study found that the country of origin of vaccines was a factor involved in vaccine-related decisions. Acı et al [30] found that vaccine myths and prejudices about the country in which the vaccine was developed influence vaccination decisions. In line with our results, the same study reported that some participants were biased toward the country of origin of the vaccine and would prefer waiting for a domestic vaccine.…”