COVID-19 Vaccination uptake among Health Care Workers.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE\nTo assess reasons for noncompliance to COVID-19 vaccination among health care workers.\n\n\nDESIGN\nCohort observational and surveillance study.\n\n\nSETTING\nSheba Medical center, a 1600 bed tertiary medical center in Israel.\n\n\nPARTICIPANTS\n10,888 Health care workers including all employees, students and volunteers.\n\n\nINTERVENTION\nThe BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 vaccine was offered to all health care workers of the hospital, non-compliance was assessed and pre-rollout and post-rollout surveys were carried out. Data regarding uptake of the vaccine as well as demographic data and compliance to prior influenza vaccination was collected. Additionally, two surveys were distributed; pre-rollout, regarding intention to receive the vaccine and post-rollout, to all unvaccinated health care workers regarding causes of hesitancy.\n\n\nRESULTS\nIn the pre-rollout survey 1673/3563 (47%) declared their intent to receive the vaccine. Eventually 8108 (79%) of health care workers received the COVID-19 vaccine within 40 days of rollout. In a multivariate logistic regression model, the factors that were significant predictors of vaccine uptake were male gender, 40-59 age group, Paramedical and Doctors, a high socioeconomic level and compliance with flu vaccine. Among 425 unvaccinated health care workers who answered the second survey, the most common cause for hesitancy was the risk during pregnancy (31%).\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nThough vaccine uptake among health care workers was higher than expected, still relatively low uptake was observed among young women and those from lower socioeconomic level and educational background. Concerns regarding vaccine safety during pregnancy were common and more data about vaccine safety especially during pregnancy might improve compliance.