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Vaccine Hesitancy of Health-Care Workers: Another Challenge in the Fight Against COVID-19 in Istanbul

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 August 2021

Sarper Yilmaz Open the ORCID record for Sarper Yilmaz [Opens in a new window] ,
Figen Ünal Çolak Open the ORCID record for Figen Ünal Çolak [Opens in a new window] ,
Erdal Yilmaz ,
Rohat Ak Open the ORCID record for Rohat Ak [Opens in a new window] ,
Nihat Müjdat Hökenek  and
Mehmet Mustafa Altıntaş
Sarper Yilmaz
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kırdar City Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
Figen Ünal Çolak
Affiliation:
Faculty of Communication Science, Anadolu University, Eskişehir, Turkey
Erdal Yilmaz
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kırdar City Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
Rohat Ak*
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kırdar City Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
Nihat Müjdat Hökenek
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kırdar City Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
Mehmet Mustafa Altıntaş
Affiliation:
Department of General Surgery, Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kırdar City Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
*
Corresponding author: Rohat Ak, Email: rohatakmd@gmail.com
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Abstract

Objective:

Health-care workers (HCWs) are often seen as the most reliable source of vaccine-related information for their patients; nevertheless, various studies show that HCWs experience vaccine hesitation. In this study, the aim was to determine the reasons for vaccine hesitation among HCWs working in a large public hospital and its affiliated units in Istanbul.

Methods:

A descriptive method for collecting qualitative data was designed for this study. The data of the HCWs were analyzed in line with the vaccine hesitancy factors put forward by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Results:

The most important vaccine hesitancy theme that emerged was the fear and lack of confidence in the vaccines, which was expressed at a higher rate than any other theme in all HCWs. The most cited reason for fear/lack of confidence in the vaccine was the fear of its side effects. It was observed that the HCWs who reported hesitation about vaccination due to pregnancy and breastfeeding consisted of women. The second most common theme for vaccine hesitation was reported as an inconvenience in accessing the vaccines. Although HCWs have priority, they stated that their reason for vaccine hesitancy was due to heavy personal issues or workloads. The final theme was about complacency, or thinking they do not need the vaccine.

Conclusions:

Vaccine hesitation is a challenge that can be overcome with detailed monitoring and policy-making. Although the vaccine seems to be more significant, we do not want to see vaccine hesitancy grow more than the vaccine itself.

Keywords

COVID-19pandemicvaccine hesitancyhealth-care workers
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 16 , Issue 3 , June 2022 , pp. 1134 - 1140
Copyright
© Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2021

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