The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact daily life, including health system operations, despite the availability of vaccines that are effective in greatly reducing the risks of death and severe disease. Misperceptions of COVID-19 vaccine safety, efficacy, risks, and mistrust in institutions responsible for vaccination campaigns have been reported as factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy. This study investigated COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy globally in June 2021. Nationally representative samples of 1,000 individuals from 23 countries were surveyed. Data were analyzed descriptively, and weighted multivariable logistic regressions were used to explore associations with vaccine hesitancy. Here, we show that more than three-fourths (75.2%) of the 23,000 respondents report vaccine acceptance, up from 71.5% one year earlier. Across all countries, vaccine hesitancy is associated with a lack of trust in COVID-19 vaccine safety and science, and skepticism about its efficacy. Vaccine hesitant respondents are also highly resistant to required proof of vaccination; 31.7%, 20%, 15%, and 14.8% approve requiring it for access to international travel, indoor activities, employment, and public schools, respectively. For ongoing COVID-19 vaccination campaigns to succeed in improving coverage going forward, substantial challenges remain to be overcome. These include increasing vaccination among those reporting lower vaccine confidence in addition to expanding vaccine access in low- and middle-income countries. 

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

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The Vaccine-Hesitant Moment

Psychological Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance among Healthcare Workers in Kuwait: A Cross-Sectional Study Using the 5C and Vaccine Conspiracy Beliefs Scales

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Attitude toward Booster Doses among US Healthcare Workers.

COVID-19 vaccines were approved in late 2020 and early 2021 for public use in countries across the world. Several studies have now highlighted COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy in the general public. However, little is known about the nature and extent of COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy in healthcare workers worldwide. Thus, the purpose of this study was to conduct a comprehensive worldwide assessment of published evidence on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers. A scoping review method was adopted to include a final pool of 35 studies in this review with study sample size ranges from n = 123 to 16,158 (average = 2185 participants per study). The prevalence of COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy worldwide in healthcare workers ranged from 4.3 to 72% (average = 22.51% across all studies with 76,471 participants). The majority of the studies found concerns about vaccine safety, efficacy, and potential side effects as top reasons for COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy in healthcare workers. The majority of the studies also found that individuals who were males, of older age, and doctoral degree holders (i.e., physicians) were more likely to accept COVID-19 vaccines. Factors such as the higher perceived risk of getting infected with COVID-19, direct care for patients, and history of influenza vaccination were also found to increase COVID-19 vaccination uptake probability. Given the high prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in healthcare workers, communication and education strategies along with mandates for clinical workers should be considered to increase COVID-19 vaccination uptake in these individuals. Healthcare workers have a key role in reducing the burden of the pandemic, role modeling for preventive behaviors, and also, helping vaccinate others.

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The Nature and Extent of COVID-19 Vaccination Hesitancy in Healthcare Workers.

COVID-19 Vaccination Hesitancy in Students and Trainees of Healthcare Professions: A Global Assessment and Call for Action.

COVID-19 vaccination refusal among college students: Global trends and action priorities.

Determinants of mask-wearing during a pandemic range from the personal to the political. Using a repeated measures design, we examined psychosocial predictors of self-reported mask-wearing 3 times during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants completed surveys at baseline (summer 2020), 3 months (fall 2020), and 6 months (winter 2020-2021). The survey assessed the frequency of mask-wearing and psychosocial predictors from various theories, including fear of COVID-19, perceived severity, perceived susceptibility, attitude, health locus of control, and self-efficacy. Results indicated that the strongest predictors of mask-wearing varied as a function of the stage in the pandemic. In the earliest phase, fear of COVID-19 and perceived severity were the strongest predictors. Three months later, attitude was the strongest predictor. Finally, another 3 months later, self-efficacy became the strongest predictor. Overall, the results suggest that the primary determinants of a novel protective behavior shift over time and with increased familiarity.

https://doi.org/10.1177/00469580231166732

Psychosocial Factors Predict Mask-Wearing: A Longitudinal Study Across 3 Phases of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: Health care providers’ (HCP) advice for lifestyle modification is critical in the management and treatment of hypertension among adults. However, recent examination of the differences in receiving advice for lifestyle modification from HCP to adults with hypertension (HTN) by sociodemographic characteristics is limited.
Materials and methods: Data were obtained from the 2017-2018 national health and nutrition examination survey (n=1,524; representing 57 million Americans). HCP advice on lifestyle modification was defined in four categories (advice to control/lose weight, exercise, reduce salt in diet, and reduce fat/calories). Sociodemographic differences by HCP advice were evaluated using weighted adjusted logistic regression models for each outcome.
Results: Among the sample of adults with HTN, 42.3% received HCP advice to lose weight, 59% received advice to exercise, 49.2% received advice to reduce salt, and 46.4% received advice to reduce calories. Black (vs. White) adults with HTN had about twice and thrice higher odds of receiving HCP advice to exercise and reduce salt, respectively (95% CI: 1.12-2.51, 1.73-3.81). Adults aged 40-64 (vs. aged 18-39) had twice higher odds of receiving advice to lose weight (95% CI: 1.25-4.10). Adults who had no health insurance coverage (vs. those with health insurance coverage) had lower odds of receiving HCP advice to reduce calories/fat (OR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.29-0.96).
Conclusion: HCPs are generally not advising lifestyle modification for the U.S. adults with HTN, and the likelihood of receiving advice differs by sociodemographic characteristics. HTN treatment and control strategies should prioritize HCP increasing lifestyle modification advice and equity in care for the U.S. adults.

Toheeb Mustapha

Papers

The Nature and Extent of COVID-19 Vaccination Hesitancy in Healthcare Workers.

COVID-19 Vaccination Hesitancy in Students and Trainees of Healthcare Professions: A Global Assessment and Call for Action.

COVID-19 vaccination refusal among college students: Global trends and action priorities.

Psychosocial Factors Predict Mask-Wearing: A Longitudinal Study Across 3 Phases of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Health care provider lifestyle modification advice for adults with hypertension in the United States