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. 2021 Dec 2;18(23):12695.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph182312695.

Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccination among Healthcare and Non-Healthcare Workers of Hospitals and Outpatient Clinics in the Northern Region of Slovakia

Romana Ulbrichtova  1 , Viera Svihrova  1 , Maria Tatarkova  1 , Henrieta Hudeckova  1 , Jan Svihra  2
Affiliations

Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccination among Healthcare and Non-Healthcare Workers of Hospitals and Outpatient Clinics in the Northern Region of Slovakia

Romana Ulbrichtova et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyse attitudes, motivation, and reasons for hesitancy toward COVID-19 vaccination among healthcare workers (HCWs) in northern Slovakia. A cross-sectional study was conducted between 30 August 2021 and 30 September 2021. An anonymous questionnaire was administered. The study was completed by 1277 employees. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify predictors of COVID-19 vaccination status. A total of 1076 (84.3%) were vaccinated, and 201 (15.7%) were unvaccinated. Physician job type (OR = 1.77; CI95 1.13-2.78), history of COVID-19 (OR = 0.37; CI95 0.26-0.37), influenza vaccination at any time (OR = 1.97; CI95 1.12-3.46), compulsory vaccination for HCWs (OR = 9.15; CI95 2.92-28.62), and compulsory vaccination for selected groups (OR = 9.71; CI95 2.75-34.31) were the predictors significantly associated with COVID-19 vaccination acceptance. Non-physician HCWs, employees in hospitals, and employees without a history of COVID-19 significantly more distrusted the efficacy of vaccines against COVID-19. Results of our study confirmed that physicians have higher vaccination rates and lower hesitance to get vaccinated than non-physician HCWs. HCWs play an important role in influencing vaccination decisions and can be helpful in vaccine advocacy to the general public.

Keywords: COVID-19; healthcare workers; hesitancy; vaccination.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no potential conflict of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Process of data collection.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Predictors of COVID-19 vaccination (multivariate logistic regression analysis). Note: HCWs, healthcare workers; OR, Odds ratio; CI, confidence interval.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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