Estimating vaccine confidence levels among healthcare staff and students of a tertiary institution in South Africa
Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
MDPI
Abstract
Healthcare workers were the first group scheduled to receive COVID-19 vaccines when they
became available in South Africa. Therefore, estimating vaccine confidence levels and intention to
receive COVID-19 vaccines among healthcare workers ahead of the national vaccination roll-out was
imperative. We conducted an online survey from 4 February to 7 March 2021, to assess vaccine sentiments and COVID-19 vaccine intentions among healthcare staff and students at a tertiary institution
in South Africa. We enrolled 1015 participants (74.7% female). Among the participants, 89.5% (confidence interval (CI) 87.2–91.4) were willing to accept a COVID-19 vaccine, 95.4% (CI 93.9–96.6) agreed
that vaccines are important for them, 95.4% (CI 93.8–96.6) that vaccines are safe, 97.4% (CI 96.2–98.3)
that vaccines are effective, and 96.1% (CI 94.6–97.2) that vaccines are compatible with religion. Log
binomial regression revealed statistically significant positive associations between COVID-19 vaccine
acceptance and the belief that vaccines are safe (relative risk (RR) 32.2, CI 4.67–221.89), effective
(RR 21.4, CI 3.16–145.82), important for children (RR 3.5, CI 1.78–6.99), important for self (RR 18.5,
CI 4.78–71.12), or compatible with religion (RR 2.2, CI 1.46–3.78). The vaccine confidence levels
of the study respondents were highly positive. Nevertheless, this could be further enhanced by
targeted interventions.
Description
CITATION: Oduwole, E. O. et al. 2021. Estimating vaccine confidence levels among healthcare staff and students of a tertiary institution in South Africa. Vaccines, 9:1246, doi:10.3390/vaccines9111246.
The original publication is available at https://www.mdpi.com
The original publication is available at https://www.mdpi.com
Keywords
COVID-19 (Disease) -- Vaccination -- South Africa, Vaccines, Medical personnel -- Attitudes -- South Africa, Medical students -- Attitudes -- South Africa, Teaching hospitals -- South Africa
Citation
Oduwole, E. O. et al. 2021. Estimating vaccine confidence levels among healthcare staff and students of a tertiary institution in South Africa. Vaccines, 9:1246, doi:10.3390/vaccines9111246.