Willingness to accept a second COVID-19 vaccination booster dose among healthcare workers in Italy

Abstract

BackgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is evolving,the newly emerged Omicron variant being the dominant strain worldwide, and this has raised concerns about vaccine efficacy. The purposes of this survey were to examine the extent to which healthcare workers (HCWs) intend to receive a second booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and the factors that influence their willingness to accept it.MethodsThe study was conducted among HCWs who were randomly selected from four public hospitals in the Campania region, Southern Italy.ResultsA total of 496 HCWs answered the questionnaire (a response rate of 61.2%). Among the respondents, 20.8% indicated a score of 10, using a 10-point Likert-type scale, regarding the usefulness of a second COVID-19 vaccine booster dose. Physicians, HCWs who believed that COVID-19 was a severe disease, and those who have acquired information about the second booster dose from scientific journals were more likely to have this positive attitude. Slightly more than half of HCWs self-reported willingness to receive a second booster dose. Respondents who believe that HCWs are at higher risk of being infected by SARS-CoV-2, those who have a higher belief that COVID-19 is a severe disease, and those who have a higher belief that a second booster dose is useful were more willing to receive a second booster dose. The main reasons for those who had a positive intention were to protect their family members and patients, whereas, the main reasons for not getting vaccinated or for uncertainty were that the dose does not offer protection against the emerging variants and the fear of its side effects. HCWs of younger age, physicians, those who have a higher belief that a second booster dose is useful, and those who were willing to receive a second booster dose were more likely to recommend the booster dose to their patients.ConclusionThis study's findings highlight the necessity for designing and implementing educational interventions for improving second booster dose uptake and beliefs among HCWs and their capacity to recommend the vaccine to the patients.

Midwives’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice Regarding COVID-19 Vaccination for Pregnant Women: A Nationwide Web-Based Survey in Italy

“…This finding may be explained considering that those working in private practice are more likely to have not received the COVID-19 vaccination, probably because they are more independent and have less contact with their direct superior and, therefore, they may not have easy access to correct and updated information [ 33 ]. Moreover, having a higher level of perception regarding the severity of COVID-19 had a positive influence on the perceived utility about the COVID-19 vaccination, which has been previously reported among HCWs regarding the second booster dose [ 21 ].…”

“…The survey instrument was adapted from questionnaires used in previous studies on this topic carried out by this research group [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]. The questionnaire was piloted on a sample of 10 non-selected midwives to verify the comprehension of the questions and ease of completion.…”

Vaccine hesitancy for the COVID-19 vaccine booster dose among nursing home staff fully vaccinated with the primary vaccination course in Belgium

“…A recent review also synthetized scientific information to support communication strategies specific to vaccine-hesitant populations [38] . In addition, information regarding the second booster dose, derived from scientific journals, has positively influenced vaccine acceptance within specific population, including special groups such as health care workers [39] , [40] . Among measures undertaken to address vaccine hesitancy in NHs, some institutions mandated COVID-19 vaccination, as this has already been shown to be effective for influenza vaccination [41] , [42] .…”

Investigating the Reasons for Receiving the Second Booster Dose of the COVID-19 Vaccine in Adults and in People with Chronic Medical Conditions in Southern Italy

“…This survey was conducted as part of a larger project aimed at investigating perceptions and behaviors towards the COVID-19 vaccination among different groups of people in Southern Italy [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] and the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines were followed [17]. The survey was carried out between 20 July and 4 August 2022 in two immunization centers randomly selected from the list of those located in the city of Naples, the southern part of Italy.…”