Vaccine hesitancy among healthcare professionals at a university hospital

Abstract

Abstract Objective To analyze the factors associated with vaccine hesitancy among healthcare professionals at a university hospital. Methods This is a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study, developed at a federal university hospital in Pernambuco, between June and November 2022, with institution healthcare workers with high school and higher education. The predictor variables socioeconomic and occupational aspects, history of vaccine reactions, fears related to vaccines and aspects of 3Cs model (confidence, compliance, convenience) dimensions with the outcome vaccine hesitancy, defined as delay or refusal of vaccination, despite the availability of this service, were analyzed. Binary logistic regression was used, according to the stepwise backward method, to verify associations (p < 0.05). Results A total of 283 healthcare workers participated, with vaccine hesitancy being statistically associated with fear of Events Supposedly Attributable to Vaccination or Immunization (OR: 2.047; CI: 1.165-3.595; p = 0.013), having something happen that made them disbelieve in vaccine effectiveness (OR: 2.964; CI: 1.265-6.944; p = 0.012) and immunobiological agent availability in the health unit to update the card (OR: 0.314; CI: 0.136-0.723; p = 0.006). Conclusion It was observed that: fear of Events Supposedly Attributable to Vaccination or Immunization increases the chance of vaccine hesitancy by two times; the fact that something happened that led to disbelief in vaccine effectiveness increases it by almost three times; and immunobiological agent availability in the health unit to update the card reduces the occurrence of this phenomenon.