Vaccine hesitancy among paediatric nurses: Prevalence and associated factors

Abstract

Objective This study describes the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy associated with the Catalan systematic childhood vaccination calendar and some related psychosocial determinants among paediatric primary care nurses in Barcelona (Spain). Methods Cross-sectional descriptive study. In 2017 we invited the paediatric nurses (N = 165) working in Barcelona public primary health centres with paediatric departments (N = 41) to participate. They answered a questionnaire with sociodemographic and behavioural variables: severity and perceived probability of contracting the diseases of the vaccines in the vaccination schedule; safety and protection offered by each vaccine; and beliefs, social norms, and knowledge about vaccines. Outcome variable was vaccine hesitancy, dichotomized into not hesitant (nurses who would vaccinate their own offspring), and hesitant (including those who would not vaccinate them, those who had doubts and those who would delay the administration of one or more vaccines). We performed bivariate analysis and adjusted logistic regression models. Results 83% of paediatric nurses (N = 137) agreed to participate. 67.9% had the intention to vaccinate their children of all the vaccines in the systematic schedule. 32.1% of nurses experienced vaccine hesitancy, especially about the HPV (21.9%) and varicella (17.5%) vaccines. The multivariate analysis suggests associations between hesitancy and low perception of the severity of whooping cough (aOR: 3.88; 95%CI:1.32–11.4), low perception of safety of the HPV vaccine (aOR:8.5;95%CI:1.24–57.8), the belief that vaccines are administered too early (aOR:6.09;95%CI:1.98–18.8), and not having children (aOR:4.05;95%CI:1.22–13.3). Conclusions Although most paediatric nurses had the intention to vaccinate their own children, almost one-third reported some kind of vaccine hesitancy, mainly related to doubts about HPV and varicella vaccines, as well as some misconceptions. These factors should be addressed to enhance nurses’ fundamental role in promoting vaccination to families.

Revisiting COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy around the world using data from 23 countries in 2021

“…Demographic factors among HCWs such as male gender, greater age, and attainment of a doctoral degree were positively associated with acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines 40 . Our findings align with prior reports of higher rates of vaccine acceptance among physicians compared to nurses [41][42][43][44] . Among hesitant respondents in this survey, the advice of their physician improved willingness to accept a COVID-19 vaccine, as did recommendation by their employer, to a lesser extent.…”

COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccination Campaign in a Research and University Hospital in Milan, Italy

“…Whilst physicians have long been considered one of the most adherent professional categories towards flu vaccination [ 47 ], even without reaching the optimal coverage target [ 48 ], results from residents and nurses might be considered more surprising. Particularly, despite a long tradition of vaccine hesitancy found in the scientific literature for nurses [ 11 , 49 ], this professional group nearly tripled among the vaccinated population in the 2020–2021 campaign [ 25 ]. Concerning residents, our study showed their leading role in the 2021–2022 campaign, as the number of those who received flu vaccination nearly doubled.…”

COVID-VAC: The second global study of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance

“…25 Our study aligns with similarly recorded trends of higher rates of vaccination acceptance among physicians compared to nurses. [26][27][28][29] Among hesitant respondents in this survey, the advice of their physician was the factor most likely to change their minds, followed by the recommendation of their employer. This effect could be amplified if the physician had personally received the vaccine.…”