Observational Study

. 2021 Sep;41(9):1607-1616.

doi: 10.1007/s00296-021-04941-0. Epub 2021 Jul 9.

Rheumatology university faculty opinion on coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) vaccines: the vaXurvey study from Egypt

Nevin Hammam^{1

2}, Samar Tharwat³, Rawhya R El Shereef⁴, Ahmed M Elsaman⁵, Noha M Khalil⁶, Hanan M Fathi⁷, Mohamed N Salem⁸, Hanan M El-Saadany⁹, Nermeen Samy¹⁰, Amany S El-Bahnasawy¹¹, Yousra H Abdel-Fattah¹², Marwa A Amer¹², Emad ElShebini¹³, Amira T El-Shanawany¹⁴, Dina H El-Hammady¹⁵, Rasha Abdel Noor¹⁶, Marwa ElKhalifa¹⁷, Faten Ismail⁴, Rasha M Fawzy¹⁸, Amany R El-Najjar¹⁹, Zahraa I Selim², Nouran M Abaza²⁰, Ahmed R Radwan⁵, Mervat IAbd Elazeem²¹, Wael Abdel Mohsen²², Abdel Hafeez Moshrif²³, Eman F Mohamed²⁴, Loay I Aglan²⁵, Soha Senara⁷, Maha E Ibrahim²⁶, Iman Khalifa²⁷, Rasha El Owaidy²⁸, Noha El Fakharany²⁹, Reem Hamdy A Mohammed²⁹, Tamer A Gheita³⁰; Egyptian College of Rheumatology (ECR) COVID-19 Study Group

Affiliations

¹ Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
² Rheumatology Department, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, USA.
³ Rheumatology Unit, Internal Medicine, Mansoura University, Dakahlia, Egypt.
⁴ Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt.
⁵ Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt.
⁶ Internal Medicine Department, Rheumatology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
⁷ Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt.
⁸ Internal Medicine Department, Rheumatology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt.
⁹ Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Gharbia, Egypt.
¹⁰ Internal Medicine Department, Rheumatology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
¹¹ Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Dakahlia, Egypt.
¹² Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
¹³ Internal Medicine Department, Rheumatology Unit, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt.
¹⁴ Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt.
¹⁵ Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt.
¹⁶ Internal Medicine Department, Rheumatology Unit, Tanta University, Gharbia, Egypt.
¹⁷ Internal Medicine Department, Rheumatology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
¹⁸ Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Kalubia, Egypt.
¹⁹ Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Sharkia, Egypt.
²⁰ Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
²¹ Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt.
²² Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt.
²³ Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, Egypt.
²⁴ Internal Medicine Department, Rheumatology Unit, Faculty of Medicine (Girls), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
²⁵ Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Aswan University, Aswan, Egypt.
²⁶ Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez-Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.
²⁷ Pediatrics Department, Rheumatology and Nephrology Unit, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt.
²⁸ Pediatrics Department, Rheumatology Unit, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
²⁹ Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
³⁰ Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. gheitamer@hotmail.com.

PMID: 34244818
PMCID: PMC8269986
DOI: 10.1007/s00296-021-04941-0

Observational Study

Rheumatology university faculty opinion on coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) vaccines: the vaXurvey study from Egypt

Nevin Hammam et al. Rheumatol Int. 2021 Sep.

. 2021 Sep;41(9):1607-1616.

doi: 10.1007/s00296-021-04941-0. Epub 2021 Jul 9.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
² Rheumatology Department, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, USA.
³ Rheumatology Unit, Internal Medicine, Mansoura University, Dakahlia, Egypt.
⁴ Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt.
⁵ Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt.
⁶ Internal Medicine Department, Rheumatology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
⁷ Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt.
⁸ Internal Medicine Department, Rheumatology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt.
⁹ Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Gharbia, Egypt.
¹⁰ Internal Medicine Department, Rheumatology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
¹¹ Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Dakahlia, Egypt.
¹² Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
¹³ Internal Medicine Department, Rheumatology Unit, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt.
¹⁴ Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt.
¹⁵ Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt.
¹⁶ Internal Medicine Department, Rheumatology Unit, Tanta University, Gharbia, Egypt.
¹⁷ Internal Medicine Department, Rheumatology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
¹⁸ Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Kalubia, Egypt.
¹⁹ Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Sharkia, Egypt.
²⁰ Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
²¹ Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt.
²² Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt.
²³ Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, Egypt.
²⁴ Internal Medicine Department, Rheumatology Unit, Faculty of Medicine (Girls), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
²⁵ Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Aswan University, Aswan, Egypt.
²⁶ Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez-Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.
²⁷ Pediatrics Department, Rheumatology and Nephrology Unit, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt.
²⁸ Pediatrics Department, Rheumatology Unit, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
²⁹ Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
³⁰ Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. gheitamer@hotmail.com.

PMID: 34244818
PMCID: PMC8269986
DOI: 10.1007/s00296-021-04941-0

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of the present work was to explore the perspectives of Egyptian Rheumatology staff members as regards the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) vaccine.

Methods: The survey is composed of 25 questions. Some questions were adapted from the global rheumatology alliance COVID-19 survey for patients.

Results: 187 rheumatology staff members across Egypt from 18 universities and authorizations actively participated with a valid response. The mean time needed to complete the survey was 17.7 ± 13 min. Participants were 159 (85%) females (F:M 5.7:1). One-third agreed that they will be vaccinated once available, 24.6% have already received at least one dose, 29.4% are unsure while 16% will not take it. Furthermore, 70.1% agreed that they will recommend it to the rheumatic diseases (RD) patients once available, 24.1% are not sure while 5.9% will not recommend it. RD priority to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in descending order include SLE (82.9%), RA (55.1%), vasculitis (51.3%), systemic sclerosis (39.6%), MCTD (31.6%), Behcet's disease (28.3%). The most common drugs to be avoided before vaccination included biologics (71.7%), DMARDs (44.4%), biosimilars (26.7%), IVIg (17.1%) and NSAIDs (9.1%).

Conclusions: The results of the study and specifically the low rate of acceptability are alarming to Egyptian health authorities and should stir further interventions to reduce the levels of vaccine hesitancy. As rheumatic disease patients in Egypt were not systematically provided with the vaccine till present, making the vaccine available could as well enhance vaccine acceptance. Further studies to investigate any possible side effects, on a large scale of RD patients are warranted.

Keywords: Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19); Egyptian; Rheumatology staff members; Vaccines.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

None.

Figures

**Fig. 1**
The Rheumatology staff members' opinion on the rheumatic diseases (RD) with priority to be vaccinated. *SLE* systemic lupus erythematosus, RA rheumatoid arthritis, *SSc* systemic sclerosis, *MCTD* mixed connective tissue disease, BD Behcets disease, *SpA* spondyloarthritis, AS ankylosing spondylitis, *PsA* psoriatic arthritis, *JIA* juvenile idiopathic arthritis, SS Sjogrens syndrome, *IIM* idiopathic inflammatory myopathy, OA osteoarthritis, *FMS* fibromyalgia syndrome

**Fig. 2**
The Rheumatology staff members' opinion on the co-morbidities that may defer the decision to vaccinate rheumatic diseases (RD) patients and the medications to be rather avoided for RD patients before vaccination. *HIV/AIDS* human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, *HCV/HBV* hepatitis C and B virus, *PHtn* pulmonary hypertension, *CFS* chronic fatigue syndrome, *IBD* inflammatory bowel disease, *DMARDs* disease-modifying anti-rheumatic disease, *IV Ig* intravenous immunoglobulin, OP osteoporosis, *NSAIDs* non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

**Fig. 3**
The Rheumatology staff members' perspective on different COVID-19 vaccine statements: 11.1: The COVID-19 vaccines were developed too quickly; 11.2: Concern about side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine for me; 11.3: Concern about side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine for RD patients; 11.4: Unsafety of the COVID-19 vaccine; 11.5: Worry about the cost of the COVID-19 vaccine; 11.6: Worry that travel will be too difficult to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine; 11.7: Worry that the appointment to receive the COVID-19 vaccine is not easy for me; 11.8: Worry that the appointment to receive the COVID-19 vaccine is not easy for RD patients; 11.9: The vaccine will cause a mild course of the COVID-19 infection; 11.10: I am "provaccine"; 11.11: I never get very ill with infections so the COVID-19 vaccine is not needed for me; 11.12: The RD patients who don't get infected easily don't need the vaccine; 11.13: Worry that the COVID-19 vaccine cause COVID-19 infection; 11.14: The COVID-19 vaccine will not work as well for me; 11.15: The COVID-19 vaccine will not work as well for RD patients; 11.16: I would wait for a specific type of COVID-19 vaccine; and 11.17: I don't think the vaccine will not protect against new COVID-19 variants

**Fig. 4**
The Rheumatology staff members' perspective on different COVID-19 vaccine statements: 12.1: Letting infection run through the population; 12.2: COVID-19 is not dangerous for RD patients; 12.3: The vaccine will help us return to how life was before COVID-19; 12.4: Being vaccinated will alleviate the fears and worries about the pandemic; 12.5: I want to protect myself and my family from COVID-19; 12.6: I believe in natural or traditional remedies for COVID-19 for me; 12.7: I believe in natural or traditional remedies for COVID-19 for RD patients; 12.8: The vaccine will lessen the financial hardship of the pandemic; and 12.9: Wearing mask and social distancing are important ways to control COVID-19

See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

1. Misra DP, Agarwal V, Gasparyan AY, Zimba O. Rheumatologists’ perspective on coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) and potential therapeutic targets. Clin Rheumatol. 2020 doi: 10.1007/s10067-020-05073-9. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
1. Ceribelli A, Motta F, De Santis M, et al. Recommendations for coronavirus infection in rheumatic diseases treated with biologic therapy. J Autoimmun. 2020;109:102442. doi: 10.1016/j.jaut.2020.102442. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
1. Tang W, Askanase AD, Khalili L, Merrill JT. SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in patients with SLE. Lupus Sci Med. 2021;8:e000479. doi: 10.1136/lupus-2021-000479. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
1. Egypt: WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard With Vaccination Data. https://covid19.who.int. Accessed 13 Jun 2021
1. COVID Live Update: 176,484,692 Cases and 3,812,240 Deaths from the Coronavirus - Worldometer. https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/. Accessed 13 Jun 2021

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Rheumatology university faculty opinion on coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) vaccines: the vaXurvey study from Egypt

Affiliations

Rheumatology university faculty opinion on coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) vaccines: the vaXurvey study from Egypt

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

Figures

References

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

Medical

Research Materials

Miscellaneous