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Observational Study
. 2022 Oct;43(10):1433-1438.
doi: 10.1017/ice.2021.421. Epub 2021 Sep 23.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination uptake among healthcare workers

Mayan Gilboa  1   2 , Ilana Tal  2   3 , Einav G Levin  2   3 , Shoshi Segal  2   3 , Ana Belkin  1   2 , Tal Zilberman-Daniels  1   2 , Asaf Biber  1   2 , Carmit Rubin  3 , Galia Rahav  1   2 , Gili Regev-Yochay  2   3
Affiliations
Observational Study

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination uptake among healthcare workers

Mayan Gilboa et al. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2022 Oct.

Abstract

Objective: To assess reasons for noncompliance with COVID-19 vaccination among healthcare workers (HCWs).

Design: Cohort observational and surveillance study.

Setting: Sheba Medical Center, a 1,600-bed tertiary-care medical center in Israel.

Participants: The study included 10,888 HCWs including all employees, students, and volunteers.

Intervention: The BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine was offered to all HCWs of the hospital. Noncompliance was assessed, and pre-rollout and post-rollout surveys were conducted. Data regarding uptake of the vaccine as well as demographic data and compliance with prior influenza vaccination were collected, and 2 surveys were distributed. The survey before the rollout pertained to the intention to receive the vaccine, and the survey after the rollout pertained to all unvaccinated HCWs regarding causes of hesitancy.

Results: In the pre-rollout survey, 1,673 (47%) of 3,563 HCWs declared their intent to receive the vaccine. Overall, 8,108 (79%) HCWs received the COVID-19 vaccine within 40 days of rollout. In a multivariate logistic regression model, the factors that were significant predictors of vaccine uptake were male sex, age 40-59 years, occupation (paramedical professionals and doctors), high socioeconomic level, and compliance with flu vaccine. Among 425 unvaccinated HCWs who answered the second survey, the most common cause for hesitancy was the risk during pregnancy (31%).

Conclusions: Although vaccine uptake among HCWs was higher than expected, relatively low uptake was observed among young women and those from lower socioeconomic levels and educational backgrounds. Concerns regarding vaccine safety during pregnancy were common and more data about vaccine safety, especially during pregnancy, might improve compliance.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors report no conflicts of interest relevant to this article.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Causes of vaccine hesitancy. A-By age group. B-by gender
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Measures suggested by survey responders for improving their compliance with COVID-19 vaccination.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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