POS1187\u2005WILLINGNESS TO GET THE COVID-19 VACCINE AMONG PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATIC DISEASES, HEALTH WORKERS AND GENERAL POPULATION

Abstract

As of January 2021 the COVID-19 pandemic has been responsible for more than 2.2 million deaths worldwide (1). Potential vaccines against COVID-19 have been developed swiftly and vaccination programs were started in many countries. Turkey agreed to use inactivated vaccine candidate, ‘CoronaVac’ produced by Chinese biopharmaceutical company (3). Many of our patients having a rheumatic diseases (RD) call us for permission to get vaccination, while some express their concerns about the efficacy and safety issues.We therefore assessed the willingness to get vaccination among patients with RD compared to health workers and a sample from general population.A web-based questionnaire study was conducted in a cross-sectional design in 3 groups of participants: 1. patients with RD, 2. hospital workers and 3. General population. The questionnaire sought socio-demographic variables, COVID-19 related risk factors, willingness to get vaccination, and concerns and thoughts about vaccine. COVID-19 related anxiety (CAS) was also evaluated through the questionnaire.We studied in total 732 (258\u2009M/ 474 F) patients with RD, 320 (88\u2009M/ 232 F) hospital workers and 763 (258\u2009M/ 505 F) individuals representing general population. Patients with RD were significantly older and less educated and spent less time using social media compared to both control groups (Table 1). CAS scores were similar between the study groups. Of the patients with RD, 29.2% were willing to be vaccinated, 19% were unwilling and 51.8% were undecided. These were similar among the general population (34.6%, 23.3% and 42.1%, respectively), whereas hospital workers were significantly more willing (52.5%, 20.9% and 26.6%, respectively) (p<0.0001). About a third in each group thought that vaccination should be obligatory.The major concerns associated with vaccine were fear from side effects, unknown scientific results and lack of confidence. Being male, older age, working in a hospital and increased anxiety levels were found to be independently associated with willingness.Only about one third of the patients with RD were willing to get vaccination, which was somewhat similar to that observed among the general population. This could be due to rushed vaccine development as well as negative news on vaccines on the social media. Our study also reveals that, after almost one year after the pandemic, about 95% in all study groups did not express dysfunctional anxiety related with COVID-19.[1]https://covid19.who.int/[2]https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-26/turkey-signs-accord-with-biontech-for-coronavirus-vaccineTable 1.Socio-demographic and COVID-19 associated variables, anxiety\nscores and willingness to get vaccinationPatients with RD(n=732)Hospital workers(n = 320)General population(n =763)PMale/ Female, n258/47488/232258/5050.045Age, mean ± SD, years42.8 ± 11.637.0 ± 10.040.8 ± 12.0<0.001Primary/middle school education, n (%)225 (30.7)6 (1.9)28 (3.7)<0.001≤ 1 hour daily spent using social media, n (%)270 (36.9)100 (31.3)192 (25.2)<0.0001COVID-19 related anxiety, total score, mean ± SD1.62 ± 3.031.81±2.641.55±2.710.389COVID-19 related anxiety, cut off value of ≥ 9, n (%)36 (5.1)13 (4.2)29 (4.0)0.626COVID-19 diagnosis in the participant (n %)<0.0001\u2003Yes104 (14.2)69 (21.6)70 (9.2)\u2003No617 (84.3)248 (77.5)687 (90.0)\u2003Unsure11 (1.5)3 (0.9)6 (0.8)COVID-19 diagnosis among the household or close friends, n (%)<0.0001\u2003Yes460 (62.8)244 (76.3)435 (57.0)\u2003No254 (34.7)76 (23.8)317 (41.5)\u2003Unsure18 (2.5)011 (1.4)Presence of any comorbid disease, n (%)304 (41.5)67 (20.9)181 (23.7)<0.0001History of psychiatric disorder, n (%)177 (24.2)51 (15.9)110 (14.4)<0.0001Willingness to get vaccination (n %)<0.0001\u2003Yes214 (29.2)168 (52.5)264 (34.6)\u2003No139 (19.0)67 (20.9)178 (23.3)\u2003Unsure379 (51.8)85 (26.6)321 (42.1)Do you think that vaccination should be obligatory? n (%)0.003\u2003Yes216 (29.5)113 (35.3)207 (27.1)\u2003No277 (37.8)136 (42.5)331 (43.4)\u2003Unsure239 (32.7)71 (22.2)225 (29.5)None declared.