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A special issue of Vaccines (ISSN 2076-393X). This special issue belongs to the section "Human Vaccines and Public Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2023) | Viewed by 12222

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Shiran Bord

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Guest Editor

The Max Stern Yezreel Valley College, Emek Yezreel, Israel
Interests: public health; health promotion; vaccination compliance and hesitation; risk behaviors

Dr. Fuad Basis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Technion Faculty of Medicine, Rambam health Care Campus, The Max Stern Yezreel Valley College, Haifa, Israel
Interests: health policy; health system management; emergency medicine

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to a Special Issue dealing with vaccine hesitancy across the globe.

Although vaccines have been shown to be one of the most effective primary prevention methods, there are various barriers to vaccine compliance. These barriers are often influenced by the type of vaccine and the social, environmental, and cultural characteristics of the target population.

This Special Issue is dedicated to studies dealing with vaccine hesitancy and vaccine compliance across the globe.

We will be happy to offer article processing fee (APC) discounts for high-quality and -impact research papers.

Best regards,
Dr. Shiran Bord
Dr. Fuad Basis
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Vaccines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

vaccination
compliance
hesitation
behavior
health promotion
public health
barriers

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 1298 KiB

Open AccessArticle

COVID-19 Attitudes and Vaccine Hesitancy among an Agricultural Community in Southwest Guatemala: A Cross-Sectional Survey

by Neudy Rojop, Diva M. Calvimontes, Edgar Barrios, Molly M. Lamb, Alejandra Paniagua-Avila, Jose Monzon, Lindsey M. Duca, Chelsea Iwamoto, Anna N. Chard, Melissa Gomez, Kareen Arias, Yannik Roell, Guillermo Antonio Bolanos, Emily Zielinski-Gutierrez, Eduardo Azziz-Baumgartner, Maria Renee Lopez, Celia Cordon-Rosales, Edwin J. Asturias and Daniel Olson

Vaccines 2023, 11(6), 1059; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11061059 - 2 Jun 2023

Viewed by 1404

Abstract

Despite offering free-of-charge COVID-19 vaccines starting July 2021, Guatemala has one of the lowest vaccination rates in Latin America. From 28 September 2021 to 11 April 2022, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of community members, adapting a CDC questionnaire to evaluate COVID-19 vaccine access and hesitancy. Of 233 participants ≥ 12 years, 127 (55%) received ≥1 dose of COVID-19 and 4 (2%) reported prior COVID-19 illness. Persons ≥ 12 years old who were unvaccinated (n = 106) were more likely to be female (73% vs. 41%, p < 0.001) and homemakers (69% vs. 24%, p < 0.01) compared with vaccinated participants (n = 127). Among those ≥18 years, the main reported motivation for vaccination among vaccinated participants was to protect the health of family/friends (101/117, 86%); on the other hand, 40 (55%) unvaccinated persons reported little/no confidence in public health institutions recommending COVID-19 vaccination. Community- and/or home-based vaccination programs, including vaccination of families through the workplace, may better reach female homemakers and reduce inequities and hesitancy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vaccination Hesitancy across the Globe)

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19 pages, 1595 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of Political Belief in COVID-19 Vaccine Resistance, Virus Transmission, and Closure Policy Response

by Danny Ben-Shahar, Stuart Gabriel and Roni Golan

Vaccines 2023, 11(6), 1046; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11061046 - 31 May 2023

Viewed by 1378

Abstract

We employ unique panel data on the universe of COVID-19 vaccination and infection cases in Israel to examine the role of political belief in COVID-19 vaccine uptake, virus transmission, and closure policy response. The paper identifies political beliefs based on statistical area votes in national elections held in Israel on the eve of the COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020. Unlike the U.S. and elsewhere, pandemic policy intervention in Israel was broadly supported by politicians across the belief spectrum. As such, household response to virus risk was not biased by contemporaneous partisan disagreement and debate among political leaders. Findings show, all things equal, that in the wake of emergent and localized virus risk, voters in politically right-of-center and religious areas displayed substantially higher odds of both vaccine resistance and virus transmission as compared to their left-center counterparts. Moreover, political belief is highly salient to aggregate pandemic outcomes. Model simulation shows that had all areas responded to virus risk with the more risk-averse behaviors of left-of-center areas, the number of vaccinations nationwide would have increased by 15 percent. That same scenario results in a full 30 percent reduction in total infection cases. Results also show that coercive policy measures such as economic closure were more effective in reducing virus transmission among less risk-averse right-wing and religious areas. Findings provide new evidence of the role of political belief in household response to health risks. Results further underscore the importance of timely, targeted messaging and intervention among divergent political belief groups to reduce vaccine hesitancy and enhance disease control. Future studies should explore the external validity of findings, including the use of individual voter data, if available, to evaluate political belief effects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vaccination Hesitancy across the Globe)

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16 pages, 720 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Qualitative Insights into Vaccine Uptake of Nursing Staff in Long-Term Care Facilities in Finland

by Anna-Leena Lohiniva, Idil Hussein, Jaana-Marija Lehtinen, Jonas Sivelä, Suvi Hyökki, Hanna Nohynek, Pekka Nuorti and Outi Lyytikäinen

Vaccines 2023, 11(3), 530; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11030530 - 23 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2136

Abstract

Vaccine hesitancy and refusal have undermined COVID-19 vaccination efforts of nursing staff. This study aimed to identify behavioral factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine uptake among unvaccinated nursing staff in long-term care facilities (LTCF) in Finland. Methodology: The study was based on the Theoretical Domains Framework. Data were collected through qualitative in-depth interviews among nursing staff and managers of LTCFs. The analysis was based on thematic analysis. We identified seven behavioral domains, with several themes, that reduced the staff’s intention to get vaccinated: knowledge (information overload, inability to identify trustworthy information sources, lack of vaccine-specific and understandable scientific information), beliefs about consequences (incorrect perceptions about the vaccine effectiveness, and lack of trust in the safety of the vaccine), social influences (influence of family and friends), reinforcement (limited abilities of the management to encourage vaccination), beliefs about capabilities (pregnancy or desire to get pregnant), psychological factors (coping with changing opinion), and emotions (confusion, suspicion, disappointment, and fatigue). We also identified three behavioral domains that encouraged vaccine uptake: social influences (trust in health authorities), environmental context and resources (vaccination logistics), and work and professional role (professional pride). The study findings can help authorities to develop tailored vaccine promotion strategies for healthcare workers in LTCFs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vaccination Hesitancy across the Globe)

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12 pages, 288 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Healthcare Access and Experiences of Racial Discrimination as Predictors of General Vaccine Hesitancy

by Sheena CarlLee, Don E. Willis, Jennifer A. Andersen, Morgan Gurel-Headley, Shashank S. Kraleti, James P. Selig, Ramey Moore, Alexandra Diaz-Cruz, Michael D. Macechko and Pearl A. McElfish

Vaccines 2023, 11(2), 409; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11020409 - 10 Feb 2023

Viewed by 1574

Abstract

The literature regarding vaccine hesitancy is limited to specific vaccines rather than general vaccine hesitancy. No studies have examined the relationship of general vaccine hesitancy to healthcare access and experiences of racial discrimination. This study fills gaps by examining: (1) socio-demographic factors; (2) associations between healthcare access; and (3) experiences with racial discrimination and general vaccine hesitancy. Survey data were obtained from 2022 US adults from 7 September to 3 October 2021. Racial and ethnic minority populations were oversampled. Age, gender, race, and education were predictors of vaccine hesitancy. Asian respondents had less than two-thirds the odds of being vaccine hesitant. Healthcare access was associated with vaccine hesitancy. Not having health insurance coverage, not having a primary care provider, and not seeing a provider for a routine check-up in the past two years were associated with higher vaccine hesitancy. For every one-point increase in racial discrimination score (0–45), the odds of being more vaccine hesitant increased by a factor of 1.03. The findings demonstrate that policy, systems, and environmental factors are critical to addressing vaccine hesitancy. Given the associations between vaccine hesitancy and racial discrimination and healthcare access, more attention should be given to inequities in the healthcare systems in order to address vaccine hesitancy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vaccination Hesitancy across the Globe)

14 pages, 282 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Barriers and Facilitators to COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake among Polish Patients: A Qualitative Interview Study

by Ludmiła Marcinowicz, Ewa Fejfer-Wirbal, Agnieszka Dudzik, Agnieszka Genowska and Sławomir Terlikowski

Vaccines 2023, 11(1), 177; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11010177 - 13 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1586

Abstract

The decision to receive a COVID-19 vaccine is influenced by a variety of individual and contextual factors. However, there are very few studies that analyse individual vaccination decisions using a qualitative methodology. To close this gap, we conducted a qualitative interview study to examine the opinions and experiences with the vaccine among patients previously hospitalized due to COVID-19, including barriers and facilitators to vaccine uptake. An exploratory qualitative study, using semi-structured telephone interviews, was conducted among 22 patients admitted for COVID-19 in Poland in 2022. Opinions of patients previously hospitalized with COVID-19 on vaccination were varied. Barriers to COVID-19 vaccine uptake stemmed from concerns about vaccine safety, patients’ religious beliefs, and negative stories. High disease severity and anxiety over personal and family health were important arguments in favour of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. The study findings indicated the need for ongoing health education by healthcare staff as well as coordination and integration of multi-sectoral institutional measures regarding COVID-19 prevention strategies as well as increased public health initiatives on social media and engagement of community leaders for awareness about vaccines and vaccination. It is crucial to build trust in COVID-19 vaccinations among the general public by disseminating reliable information through trustworthy and credible sources. However, it ought to be emphasised that, regardless of the measures taken, some individuals will remain unconvinced about receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vaccination Hesitancy across the Globe)

13 pages, 2307 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Increasing Vaccination: Psychological Characteristics of COVID-19 Vaccine Advocates, Converts, and Resisters in Hong Kong

by Xiaohui Wang, Yi-Hui Christine Huang and Qinxian Cai

Vaccines 2022, 10(10), 1744; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines10101744 - 19 Oct 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1545

Abstract

This study uses longitudinal data to profile psychological characteristics of COVID-19 vaccine advocates, resisters, and converts. We conducted a two-wave longitudinal survey (Nwave1 = 3190, Nwave2 = 2193) in Hong Kong using stratified quota sampling. Among those who completed both survey waves, 458 (30.5%) were classified as vaccine advocates, 295 (19.7%) were vaccine resisters, and 621 (41.4%) were vaccine converts (who shifted away from hesitancy). Compared to advocates, resisters were more likely to be female, those without children, between 40 and 49 years old, democratic voters, and those with poor health. Highly educated individuals, non-democrats, and those in good health were more likely to convert from hesitancy to acceptance. Public trust in authorities and confidence in vaccine were the primary factors related to vaccine uptake. Those who were more confident in vaccine, those who increased in information consumption and risk perceptions towards the pandemic, and those who decreased in their trust of health professionals were more likely to convert. Our study complements the emerging global picture of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance by focusing on changes in vaccine hesitancy during the pandemic. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vaccination Hesitancy across the Globe)

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Review

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10 pages, 1004 KiB

Open AccessReview

Employee Participation in Workplace Vaccination Campaigns: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

by Maria Rosaria Gualano, Paolo Emilio Santoro, Ivan Borrelli, Maria Francesca Rossi, Carlotta Amantea, Antonio Tumminello, Alessandra Daniele, Flavia Beccia and Umberto Moscato

Vaccines 2022, 10(11), 1898; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines10111898 - 10 Nov 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 1898

Abstract

To reduce vaccine-preventable diseases in workers, workplace vaccination campaigns can be implemented on-site. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate adherence to workplace vaccination campaigns. Three databases, PubMed, ISI Web of Science, and Scopus, were screened systematically for articles in English or Italian addressing participation in an on-site vaccination program by employees. The following data was extracted: authors, year, country, type of vaccine, type of workplace, sample size, vaccination rate. Data on the prevalence of flu vaccination were calculated and pooled using a random-effects model. Thirteen articles were included in the review, ten in the meta-analysis. Most studies were conducted in the USA (30.7%) and most vaccination campaigns were against influenza (69.2%), with a pooled estimate of 42% (95% CI: 0.25–0.60%); participation rate was highly variable, ranging from 88.9% for an influenza vaccination campaign to 5.7% for a Lyme disease vaccination campaign. Offering free on-site vaccination can be a successful tool to ensure adherence to vaccination campaigns and administration of all required doses according to the vaccine administration scheme. The occupational physician can play a key role in implementing workplace campaigns for employee mandatory vaccinations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vaccination Hesitancy across the Globe)

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