The Role of Psychological Factors and Vaccine Conspiracy Beliefs in Influenza Vaccine Hesitancy and Uptake among Jordanian Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Vaccination to prevent influenza virus infection and to lessen its severity is recommended among healthcare workers (HCWs). Health professionals have a higher risk of exposure to viruses and could transmit the influenza virus to vulnerable patients who are prone to severe disease and mortality. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the levels of influenza vaccine acceptance and uptake as well as its determinants, among Jordanian HCWs over the last influenza season of 2021/2022. This study was based on a self-administered electronic survey that was distributed in March 2022. Psychological determinants of influenza vaccine acceptance and vaccine conspiracy beliefs were assessed using the previously validated 5C scale questionnaire (confidence, complacency, constraints, calculation and collective responsibility) and the vaccine conspiracy beliefs scale. The study sample comprised a total of 1218 HCWs: nurses (n = 412, 33.8%), physicians (n = 367, 30.1%), medical technicians (n = 182, 14.9%), pharmacists (n = 161, 13.2%) and dentists (n = 87, 7.1%), among others. About two-thirds of the study sample expressed willingness to receive influenza vaccination if provided free of charge (n = 807, 66.3%), whereas less than one-third were willing to pay for the vaccine (n = 388, 31.9%). The self-reported uptake of the influenza vaccine in the last influenza season was 62.8%. The following factors were significantly associated with higher acceptance of influenza vaccination if provided freely, as opposed to vaccine hesitancy/rejection: male sex; physicians and dentists among HCW categories; higher confidence and collective responsibility; and lower complacency, constraints and calculation. Higher influenza vaccine uptake was significantly correlated with nurses and physicians among HCW categories, older age, a higher monthly income, higher confidence and collective responsibility, lower complacency and constraints and lower embrace of general vaccine conspiracy beliefs. The results of the current study can provide helpful clues to improve influenza vaccine coverage among HCWs in Jordan. Consequently, this can help to protect vulnerable patient groups and reserve valuable resources in healthcare settings. Psychological determinants appeared to be the most significant factors for vaccine acceptance and uptake, whereas the embrace of general vaccine conspiracy beliefs was associated with lower rates of influenza vaccine uptake, which should be considered in educational and interventional measures aiming to promote influenza vaccination.

Willingness to Pay (WTP) for COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Dose and Its Determinants in Indonesia

“…Therefore, paying for vaccines in general, including the booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines, can be a major hurdle to the efforts aimed to promote vaccination. Consistent with this observation, several previous studies showed a similar lower rate of vaccine acceptance if payment was needed in the context of COVID-19 [18,35], HPV [36], and influenza vaccination [37].…”

Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Intention among Nurses Who Have Been Fully Vaccinated against COVID-19: Evidence from Greece

“…Nurses’ attitudes towards influenza vaccination for 2022–2023 are important since the past two seasons have seen historically low levels of influenza and an increase in influenza activity is expected. Before this study, only Sallam et al [ 22 ] had measured the intentions of healthcare workers, including nurses, to accept influenza vaccination (for 2021–2022), and they found that the acceptance rates were highest among males, physicians, dentists, and healthcare workers with high confidence in the vaccine and a strong sense that it was part of their collective responsibility to get vaccinated. To test whether the same would be found, we estimated the levels of influenza vaccine acceptance, as well as its determinants, among nurses in Greece for the2022/2023 season.…”

Social Environmental Predictors of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in India: A Population-Based Survey

“…Previous studies have revealed significant vaccine hesitancy in the United States and Canada [ 7 ]. In previous studies using the vaccine hesitancy model, researchers have typically focused on the trust in vaccines, such as the trust in their safety and efficacy [ 7 , 8 , 9 ]. The current study presented a different picture of vaccine hesitancy in India; people’s perceptions of the COVID-19 vaccine are favorable, and vaccine hesitancy has not been widespread.…”

“…In 1985, the Indian government added the measles vaccine under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) launch. The scale was established by combining the questionnaire proposed by the WHO in 2015 with a questionnaire from a related study [ 8 , 9 ]. The scale of the trust in the social environment displayed good reliability as reflected by a Cronbach’s α = 0.696.…”

“…Under the condition of the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination intention has been shown to be positively associated with the perceived persistence of SARS-CoV-2 [ 7 ]. In addition, to determine the best way to increase influenza vaccination rates, the confidence in physicians and national health departments was assessed in 2018 [ 8 , 9 ]. Health-care providers are a key part in influencing public trust in scientific and epidemiological evidence [ 10 ].…”