Survey on Changes in the Willingness to Receive the COVID-19 Vaccine Among Patients with Breast Cancer in the Postpandemic Era

Abstract

Abstract. This study aimed to investigate the status of and changes in the vaccination willingness of patients with breast cancer to increase the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination rate among these patients. The first survey included patients from the Fifth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital who participated in the Society of Clinical Oncology Breast Cancer Committee NCP-02 study conducted from September 16 to December 31, 2021. The second survey was conducted from December 9 to December 26, 2022, for those who had not received vaccines previously. In total, 266 patients completed two questionnaires. A total of 143 patients (53.8%) changed their willingness to receive the vaccination. Among them, 45, who were initially unwilling to be vaccinated, changed their stance to become hesitant and 15 changed to become willing. Among those with hesitant attitudes toward vaccines, 45 changed their stance to become willing, and 28 changed to become unwilling; 10 patients with willing attitudes toward vaccines changed to become hesitant. Those who received surgery (odds ratio (OR), 4.24; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.45–12.42; P = 0.01) and who lived with older adults or children (OR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.13–3.62; P = 0.02) were more likely to change their attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines. This finding suggested that patients with breast cancer were cautious about receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Multiple methods should be used to promote vaccination and reduce vaccine hesitancy.