Hesitancy toward the Full COVID-19 Vaccination among Kidney, Liver and Lung Transplant Recipients in Italy
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination hesitancy is a threat as COVID-19 vaccines have reduced both viral transmission and virus-associated mortality rates, particularly in high-risk subgroups. Solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) are particularly vulnerable, as the underly...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Vaccines |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/10/11/1899 |
| _version_ | 1827645375243091968 |
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| author | Andrea Costantino Letizia Morlacchi Maria Francesca Donato Andrea Gramegna Elisa Farina Clara Dibenedetto Mariarosaria Campise Matteo Redaelli Marta Perego Carlo Alfieri Francesco Blasi Pietro Lampertico Evaldo Favi |
| author_facet | Andrea Costantino Letizia Morlacchi Maria Francesca Donato Andrea Gramegna Elisa Farina Clara Dibenedetto Mariarosaria Campise Matteo Redaelli Marta Perego Carlo Alfieri Francesco Blasi Pietro Lampertico Evaldo Favi |
| author_sort | Andrea Costantino |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination hesitancy is a threat as COVID-19 vaccines have reduced both viral transmission and virus-associated mortality rates, particularly in high-risk subgroups. Solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) are particularly vulnerable, as the underlying causes of their organ failure and the chronic immunosuppression are associated with a lower immune response to COVID-19 vaccines, and with an excessive risk of death due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. We aimed to evaluate COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy and its reasons in a population of SOTRs. Methods: All the SOTRs attending our post-transplant clinics were asked to fill in a vaccination status form with specific validated questions related to their willingness to receive a third vaccine dose. In the case of negative answers, the patients were encouraged to explain the reasons for their refusal. Among the SOTRs (1899), 1019 were investigated (53.7%). Results: Overall, 5.01% (51/1019) of the SOTRs raised concerns regarding the future third dose vaccination. In more detail, hesitancy rates were 3.3% (15/453), 4.2% (7/166), and 7.3% (29/400) among the investigated liver, lung, and kidney transplant recipients, respectively (<i>p</i> = 0.0018). The main reasons for hesitancy were fear of adverse events (30/51, 58.8%) and perceived lack of efficacy (21/51, 41.2%). Conclusions: Full adherence to ongoing or future vaccination campaigns is crucial to prevent, or at least reduce, COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality in fragile patients. The identification of the reasons influencing COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy in these patients is very important to establish appropriate and targeted patient–doctor communication strategies, and to further implement specific vaccination campaigns. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:34:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-af942298f6da4060b6900fd8fd91649a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-393X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:34:33Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Vaccines |
| spelling | doaj.art-af942298f6da4060b6900fd8fd91649a2023-11-24T07:14:27ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2022-11-011011189910.3390/vaccines10111899Hesitancy toward the Full COVID-19 Vaccination among Kidney, Liver and Lung Transplant Recipients in ItalyAndrea Costantino0Letizia Morlacchi1Maria Francesca Donato2Andrea Gramegna3Elisa Farina4Clara Dibenedetto5Mariarosaria Campise6Matteo Redaelli7Marta Perego8Carlo Alfieri9Francesco Blasi10Pietro Lampertico11Evaldo Favi12Division of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy, Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20214 Milan, ItalyRespiratory Unit and Adult Cystic Fibrosis Center, Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20124 Milan, ItalyDivision of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20124 Milan, ItalyDivision of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, ItalyDivision of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, ItalyNephrology Dialysis and Transplantation, Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20124 Milan, ItalyKidney Transplantation, Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20124 Milan, ItalyKidney Transplantation, Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20124 Milan, ItalyNephrology Dialysis and Transplantation, Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20124 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20124 Milan, ItalyDivision of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, ItalyKidney Transplantation, Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20124 Milan, ItalyBackground: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination hesitancy is a threat as COVID-19 vaccines have reduced both viral transmission and virus-associated mortality rates, particularly in high-risk subgroups. Solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) are particularly vulnerable, as the underlying causes of their organ failure and the chronic immunosuppression are associated with a lower immune response to COVID-19 vaccines, and with an excessive risk of death due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. We aimed to evaluate COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy and its reasons in a population of SOTRs. Methods: All the SOTRs attending our post-transplant clinics were asked to fill in a vaccination status form with specific validated questions related to their willingness to receive a third vaccine dose. In the case of negative answers, the patients were encouraged to explain the reasons for their refusal. Among the SOTRs (1899), 1019 were investigated (53.7%). Results: Overall, 5.01% (51/1019) of the SOTRs raised concerns regarding the future third dose vaccination. In more detail, hesitancy rates were 3.3% (15/453), 4.2% (7/166), and 7.3% (29/400) among the investigated liver, lung, and kidney transplant recipients, respectively (<i>p</i> = 0.0018). The main reasons for hesitancy were fear of adverse events (30/51, 58.8%) and perceived lack of efficacy (21/51, 41.2%). Conclusions: Full adherence to ongoing or future vaccination campaigns is crucial to prevent, or at least reduce, COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality in fragile patients. The identification of the reasons influencing COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy in these patients is very important to establish appropriate and targeted patient–doctor communication strategies, and to further implement specific vaccination campaigns.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/10/11/1899COVID-19 vaccineCOVID-19vaccine hesitancykidney transplantationliver transplantationlung transplantation |
| spellingShingle | Andrea Costantino Letizia Morlacchi Maria Francesca Donato Andrea Gramegna Elisa Farina Clara Dibenedetto Mariarosaria Campise Matteo Redaelli Marta Perego Carlo Alfieri Francesco Blasi Pietro Lampertico Evaldo Favi Hesitancy toward the Full COVID-19 Vaccination among Kidney, Liver and Lung Transplant Recipients in Italy Vaccines COVID-19 vaccine COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy kidney transplantation liver transplantation lung transplantation |
| title | Hesitancy toward the Full COVID-19 Vaccination among Kidney, Liver and Lung Transplant Recipients in Italy |
| title_full | Hesitancy toward the Full COVID-19 Vaccination among Kidney, Liver and Lung Transplant Recipients in Italy |
| title_fullStr | Hesitancy toward the Full COVID-19 Vaccination among Kidney, Liver and Lung Transplant Recipients in Italy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hesitancy toward the Full COVID-19 Vaccination among Kidney, Liver and Lung Transplant Recipients in Italy |
| title_short | Hesitancy toward the Full COVID-19 Vaccination among Kidney, Liver and Lung Transplant Recipients in Italy |
| title_sort | hesitancy toward the full covid 19 vaccination among kidney liver and lung transplant recipients in italy |
| topic | COVID-19 vaccine COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy kidney transplantation liver transplantation lung transplantation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/10/11/1899 |
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