key: cord-0908383-qgfk45qv
authors: Maltezou, Helena C.; Pavli, Androula; Dedoukou, Xanthi; Georgakopoulou, Theano; Raftopoulos, Vasilios; Drositis, Ioannis; Bolikas, Emmanouil; Ledda, Caterina; Adamis, Georgios; Spyrou, Andronikos; Karantoni, Eleni; Gamaletsou, Maria N.; Koukou, Dimitra Maria; Lourida, Athanasia; Moussas, Nikolaos; Petrakis, Vasilios; Panagopoulos, Periklis; Hatzigeorgiou, Dimitrios; Theodoridou, Maria; Lazanas, Marios; Gargalianos, Panagiotis; Sipsas, Nikolaos V.
title: Determinants of intention to get vaccinated against COVID-19 among healthcare personnel in hospitals in Greece
date: 2021-03-31
journal: Infect Dis Health
DOI: 10.1016/j.idh.2021.03.002
sha: 0f739c696d3d98aefea00b7f66e893cfc50e9033
doc_id: 908383
cord_uid: qgfk45qv

AIM: To investigate intention rates to get vaccinated against COVID-19 among healthcare personnel (HCP) in Greece. METHODS: Cross-sectional survey. RESULTS: The response rate was 14.5%. Of 1,521 HCP with a known profession, 607 (39.9%) were nursing personnel, 480 (31.6%) physicians, 171 (11.2%) paramedical personnel, 72 (4.7%) supportive personnel, and 191 (12.6%) administrative personnel. Overall, 803 of 1,571 HCP (51.1%) stated their intention to get vaccinated while 768 (48.9%) stated their intention to decline vaccination. Most HCP (71.3%) who reported intent to get vaccinated noted contributing to the control of the pandemic and protecting their families and themselves as their reasons, while the most common reason for reporting intent to decline vaccination was inadequate information about the vaccines (74.9%), followed by concerns about vaccine safety (36.2%).Logistic regression analysis revealed that the probability of intending to get vaccinated increased with male gender, being a physician, history of complete vaccination against hepatitis B, history of vaccination against pandemic A (H1N1) in 2009-2010, belief that COVID-19 vaccination should be mandatory for HCP, and increased confidence in vaccines in general during the COVID-19 pandemic. The following factors were associated with a lower intention to get vaccinated: no vaccination against influenza the past season, no intention to get vaccinated against influenza in 2020-2021, and no intention to recommend COVID-19 vaccination to high-risk patients. CONCLUSIONS: There is an urgent need to built safety perception towards COVID-19 vaccines and raise vaccine uptake rates by HCP, and thus to protect the healthcare workforce and the healthcare services.

(COVID-19), the consequences on healthcare systems became evident [1] . HCP have been 31 recognized as a high-risk group for occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and onset of 32 clinical illness, while fatalities occurred [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] . Moreover, high rates of absenteeism were 33 noted among HCP, either because of infection or for post-exposure isolation purposes [7] . 34

Starting this autumn, healthcare facilities around the world are experiencing an unprecedented 35 surge of healthcare demands in association with a considerable influx of patients [1, 8] . HCP 36 constitute a high-priority group for COVID-19 vaccination [9, 10] . Aside from protection of 37 HCP, the rationale for vaccination relies also on the need to preserve the essential healthcare 38 services from outbreaks and HCP absenteeism [9] . The underlying arguments for HCP 39 prioritization for vaccination also include the principle of reciprocity, given their work under 40 intense conditions, putting themselves but also potentially their households at higher risk for 41 

HCP did not answer the question about their intention to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Of the remaining 1571 HCP, 803 HCP (51.1%) stated their intention to get vaccinated against 121 COVID-19 while 768 (48.9%) stated that they did not intent to get vaccinated. Table 2 (Table 6) . In 159 addition, the following factors were significantly associated with a lower intention to get 160 vaccinated against COVID-19: no vaccination against influenza the past season, no intention 161 to get vaccinated against influenza in 2020-2021, and no intention to recommend COVID-19 162 vaccination to high-risk patients ( Table 6) 

We found that only half of surveyed HCP intended to get the COVID-19 vaccine, which is of 177 concern. Our finding could be partially attributed to the fact that our study was conducted at 

Lastly, at that time information about specific vaccines was rather preliminary, which may 284 account for the gap in information reported by several HCP.

In conclusion, only half of HCP in our study intended to get vaccinated against COVID-19. 

Indications for healthcare surge capacity in European 340 countries facing an exponential increase in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases

Hospital factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 343 infection among healthcare personnel in Greece

Transmission of COVID-19 to health care 345 personnel during exposures to a hospitalized patient

CDC COVID-19 response team. Characteristics of health care personnel with COVID-19

United States

Airborne transmission of severe acute 350 respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 to healthcare workers: a narrative review

The dual epidemics of COVID-19 and influenza: vaccine 353 acceptance, coverage, and mandates

SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare personnel with high-risk occupational exposure: 356 evaluation of 7-day exclusion from work policy

World Health Organization. Maintaining essential health services during the COVID-19 358 outbreak

World Health Organization. World Health Organization Strategic Advisory Group of 361 Experts on Immunization roadmap for prioritizing uses of COVID-19 vaccines in the context 362 of limited supply

COVID-19 vaccination should be mandatory for HCP (n=1548)

Intend to recommend SARS-CoV-2 vaccination to high-risk patients (n=1547)

HCP: healthcare personnel; n: the number of HCP who t i s t i c a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t

†In 19 cases, the HCP raised concerns about the rapid development and entry of COVID-19

COVID-19: coronavirus disease 2019; HCP: healthcare personnel; OR: odds ratio

• The main reason for accepting COVID-19 vaccination was to control the pandemic.• Men, physicians, and hepatitis B vaccinated were more likely to get vaccinated.• Main reasons for declining vaccination were inadequate information and safety concerns.• Safety perception about COVID-19 vaccine should be built to raise vaccine uptake.