Prevalence and risk factors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers at a Tertiary Care Center: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Vaccine hesitancy is hesitancy to take vaccine. Studies are required to identify prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine hesitancy. It is equally important to recognize factors responsible for this hesitancy. This data will help to plan health education measures so that healthcare workers can overcome the barriers for vaccine hesitancy. Objective: The objective of this article is to study prevalence and factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers. Methods: This was a single-center, cross-sectional study carried out over a period of two months among 1063 healthcare workers. Those with missing information, not consenting and absent on the day of survey were excluded. Healthcare workers included doctors including postgraduates, nurses, para-medical staff, admin staff, and housekeeping staff either working in hospital or medical college. Results: Prevalence of vaccine hesitancy was 15.1%. On logistic regression, as age increased odds of vaccine hesitancy decreased significantly (OR = 0.95; 95%CI = 0.92-0.98; P 40/day. Odds of vaccine hesitancy among those with poor knowledge was 2.84 (95%CI = 1.91-4.21; P < 0.05) times more compared to those with good knowledge. Odds of vaccine hesitancy was 3.22 (95%CI = 1.09-9.48; P < 0.05) times and 3.31 (95%CI = 1.05-10.48; P < 0.05) times more among educated up to primary and illiterate respectively compared to higher educated persons. Conclusion: We conclude that low levels of education, poor knowledge, and young age were independently and significantly associated with vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers. Prevalence of vaccine hesitancy was still high at 15.1%.

Keywords

• covid-19
• education
• knowledge
• pandemic
• vaccine hesitancy