Prevalence and Predictors of COVID-19 Vaccination Acceptance among Greek Health Care Workers and Administrative Officers of Primary Health Care Centers: A Nationwide Study Indicating Aspects for a Role Model

Background: Τhe study aims to identify factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and to investigate knowledge and perceptions of Primary Health Care Centers (PHCC) personnel, who acted as pioneers in the national COVID-19 vaccination strategy. Methods and Materials: A nationwide cross-sect...

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Main Authors: Ioanna Avakian, Lemonia Anagnostopoulos, George Rachiotis, Konstantinos Fotiadis, Anargyros Mariolis, Michalis Koureas, Katerina Dadouli, Christos Papadopoulos, Matthaios Speletas, Maria Bakola, Panagiota Vardaka, Stamatia Zoubounelli, Evangelos Tatsios, Fevronia Niavi, Apostolia Pouliou, Christos Hadjichristodoulou, Varvara A. Mouchtouri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-05-01
Series:Vaccines
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/10/5/765
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Summary:Background: Τhe study aims to identify factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and to investigate knowledge and perceptions of Primary Health Care Centers (PHCC) personnel, who acted as pioneers in the national COVID-19 vaccination strategy. Methods and Materials: A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted by distributing an online anonymous questionnaire comprising 25 questions during the first semester of 2021. Results: Approximately 85.3% of the 1136 respondents (response rate 28.4%) were vaccinated or intended to be. The acceptance of seasonal flu vaccine (aOR: 3.29, 95%CI: 2.08–5.20), correct COVID-19 vaccine knowledge (aOR: 8.37, 95%CI: 4.81–14.59) and lack of concern regarding vaccine novelty (aOR: 6.18, 95%CI: 3.91–9.77) were positively correlated with vaccine acceptance. Vaccinated respondents were more likely to be physicians (aOR: 2.29, 95%CI: 1.03–5.09) or administrative staff (aOR: 2.65, 95%CI: 1.18–5.97) compared to nursing stuff. Reasons for vaccine hesitancy included inadequate information (37.8%) and vaccine safety (31.9%). Vaccine acceptance was strongly correlated (Spearman’s correlation coefficient r = 0.991, <i>p</i> < 0.001) between PHCC personnel and the general population of each health district. Conclusions: COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among PHCC personnel in Greece was comparably high, but specific groups (nurses) were hesitant. As the survey’s target population could serve as a role model for the community, efforts should be made to improve COVID-19 vaccine acceptance.
ISSN:2076-393X