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Vaccines
Special Issues
Factors That Contribute to Vaccine Hesitancy towards COVID-19 Vaccination
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Factors That Contribute to Vaccine Hesitancy towards COVID-19 Vaccination

A special issue of Vaccines (ISSN 2076-393X). This special issue belongs to the section "Vaccine Efficacy and Safety".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 December 2024) | Viewed by 5156

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Ljiljana Marković-Denić

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: epidemiology; healthcare- associated infections; microorganisms; infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Vaccinations save lives, but many people remain hesitant to get vaccinated against COVID-19 through fear of side effects. Increasing vaccine knowledge is therefore vital for a successful COVID-19 vaccine rollout. Understanding the reasons for vaccine hesitancy and the benefits of vaccination in disease prevention is necessary. Unvaccinated individuals have higher rates of hospitalization and COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality. We invite you to submit original research articles or reviews to this Special Issue exploring the factors that contribute to hesitancy toward COVID-19 vaccination and the consequences of non-vaccination.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Ljiljana Marković-Denić
Guest Editor

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

  • COVID-19
  • vaccine hesitancy
  • vaccine attitude
  • vaccine knowledge
  • disease prevention

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 526 KiB  
Article
Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics of the Course of COVID-19 Among Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Heart Transplant Recipients in Slovenia
by Nina Grasselli Kmet, Matej Mavrič and Rajko Saletinger
Vaccines 2024, 12(12), 1366; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12121366 - 3 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1581
Abstract
Background: Patients receiving heart transplantation require lifelong immunosuppression and compared to the general population, they have a more than five times higher chance of acquiring COVID-19, and their mortality rates are higher. The aim of the present study was to estimate the [...] Read more.
Background: Patients receiving heart transplantation require lifelong immunosuppression and compared to the general population, they have a more than five times higher chance of acquiring COVID-19, and their mortality rates are higher. The aim of the present study was to estimate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in heart transplant recipients (HTRs) in Slovenia to estimate the vaccination rate and evaluate possible vaccination-hesitant subgroups. Methods: All SARS-CoV-2-positive HTRs (N = 79) between 1 March 2020 and 31 December 2023 at the Infectious Diseases Department, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia, were included retrospectively. Demographic, clinical and vaccination data were extracted from medical documentation and a statistical evaluation was performed. Results: The observed vaccination rate was 63.3%, but among patients who received transplants before the pandemic, it was statistically significantly higher (p = 0.027). Vaccinated HTRs were statistically significantly older (p = 0.004) and had a significantly higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (p = 0.018). Our results indicate no significant differences between vaccinated and unvaccinated HTRs regarding acute respiratory insufficiency (p = 0.135), length of hospital stay (p = 0.106), intensive care unit admission (0.414) and in-hospital mortality (p = 0.317), but we observed statistically more frequently an asymptomatic course in those vaccinated (p = 0.050), and a longer length of stay in vector vaccine recipients (p = 0.011) and in those not re-vaccinated (p = 0.030). There was a significantly higher re-vaccination rate in males (p = 0.005). Conclusions: An asymptomatic course of COVID-19 was more often observed in vaccinated HTRs. Our findings suggest statistically significant differences in COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rates; younger HTRs and those transplanted after the pandemic are more hesitant to vaccinate, while females accept booster doses less frequently. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Factors That Contribute to Vaccine Hesitancy towards COVID-19 Vaccination)
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15 pages, 951 KiB  
Article
Heterogeneous Associations Between Pandemic-Induced Socioeconomic Hardships and COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake by Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity: A Nationally Representative Analysis in the United States
by JungHo Park and Byoungjun Kim
Vaccines 2024, 12(11), 1277; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12111277 - 13 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1135
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Socioeconomic hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with lower vaccine uptake. Since the pandemic has exacerbated socioeconomic challenges faced by sexual and gender minority populations, including employment income loss, housing instability, food insufficiency, and household expense difficulty, this study investigated the [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Socioeconomic hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with lower vaccine uptake. Since the pandemic has exacerbated socioeconomic challenges faced by sexual and gender minority populations, including employment income loss, housing instability, food insufficiency, and household expense difficulty, this study investigated the disparities in COVID-19 vaccine uptake among these populations. Methods: Using the U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey, a nationally representative sample of 1,767,966 individuals (6% gay or lesbian, 4.2% bisexual, 1.6% something else, and 90.6% heterosexual respondents), we quantified the COVID-19 vaccine uptakes among sexual and gender minorities, as well as the effect measure modifications by socioeconomic hardships. Results: Despite higher vaccine uptake rates among sexual and gender minorities compared to their heterosexual counterparts, socioeconomic hardships triggered by the pandemic among these populations were associated with decreased vaccine uptake. Importantly, the effect measure modifications by socioeconomic hardships were more pronounced among sexual and gender minority status compared to heterosexual individuals. Conclusions: These results highlight the critical need to address socioeconomic hardships among sexual and gender minorities to enhance vaccine uptake, along with the pre-existing and exacerbated social and economic disadvantages during the COVID-19 pandemic. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Factors That Contribute to Vaccine Hesitancy towards COVID-19 Vaccination)
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16 pages, 459 KiB  
Article
Primary Healthcare Providers’ Views on Periodic COVID-19 Booster Vaccination for Themselves and Their Patients: A 2023 Nationwide Survey in Belgium
by Marina Digregorio, Pauline Van Ngoc, Julie Domen, Zsofia Bognar, Els Duysburgh, Greet Hendrickx, Pierre Van Damme, Samuel Coenen and Beatrice Scholtes
Vaccines 2024, 12(7), 740; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12070740 - 3 Jul 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1728
Abstract
New COVID-19 strains and waning vaccine effectiveness prompted initiatives for booster vaccination. In Belgium, healthcare providers (HCPs) received a second booster in July 2022, with eligible individuals receiving a third in autumn. Primary HCPs (PHCPs) play a crucial role in healthcare organization and [...] Read more.
New COVID-19 strains and waning vaccine effectiveness prompted initiatives for booster vaccination. In Belgium, healthcare providers (HCPs) received a second booster in July 2022, with eligible individuals receiving a third in autumn. Primary HCPs (PHCPs) play a crucial role in healthcare organization and patient communication. This study, conducted in February–March 2023, surveyed 1900 Belgian PHCPs to assess their views on periodic COVID-19 boosters for themselves and their patients. The survey included questions on sociodemographic information, willingness to receive periodic COVID-19 boosters, reasons for acceptance or refusal, confidence in vaccine safety and efficacy, and views on booster recommendations. Overall, 86% of participants were willing to receive periodic COVID-19 boosters, motivated by self-protection, patient well-being, and the uninterrupted delivery of healthcare services. Factors influencing booster refusal included not being a general practitioner (GP) or GP trainee, working in Wallonia or Brussels, and lacking vaccine confidence. Although 243 participants would not take boosters periodically, only 74 would not recommend it. Regarding administration, 59% supported pharmacist involvement in COVID-19 vaccination. Further qualitative analysis of 290 PHCPs’ responses revealed varying recommendations, including specific roles like nurses, organizational structures, and collaborative approaches. This study highlights the need to address vaccine confidence, regional disparities, and PHCP roles in booster implementation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Factors That Contribute to Vaccine Hesitancy towards COVID-19 Vaccination)
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