Healthcare Professionals and COVID-19 Vaccine: Approaches of Health Workers to Vaccination in the First Days of Vaccination

Abstract

Aim: This study aims to determine healthcare professionals' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors toward COVID-19 disease and vaccine in the first days of vaccination. Material and Method: The study was conducted in Sakarya Yenikent State Hospital between March 1-15, 2021, where the 2nd vaccine should also be completed for healthcare workers. The ethics committee of the study was obtained from the ethics committee of Sakarya University Faculty of Medicine. Healthcare workers who agreed to participate in the study were asked to fill out the interview form. Data were analyzed in SPSS 21 program. Results: Of the health workers participating in the study, 189 were female, and the median age was 37.0 [28.0-44.0]. The distribution of health workers by profession is examined; 115 nurses, 28 doctors, 35 technicians, 32 medical secretaries, 30 cleaning personnel, and 62 other occupational groups. During the last winter season, “Have you had the flu shot?” While 111 health workers answered “yes” to the question, 52 of those vaccinated reported that they had the flu vaccine this winter season as well. One hundred seventy-one healthcare professionals said they were involved in caring for COVID-19 patients. While there are 89 healthcare workers with COVID-19 infection, 34 healthcare professionals did not know whether they had COVID-19 infection. While only 87 participants reported that they had enough knowledge about COVID-19 vaccines, 113 stated that they had no information, and 102 were undecided on this issue. While 141 healthcare professionals are concerned about COVID-19 vaccines, 149 had concerns about vaccine protection. While 49 participants thought that inactivated vaccines were resistant to mutation and 28 thought that they were not resistant, 225 of them did not know about this issue. While 29 healthcare professionals think that mRNA vaccines produce more antibodies than inactivated vaccines, 26 health professionals stated that they disagreed with this, and 247 indicated that they did not know about this issue. While 129 health professionals did not know whether or not breastfeeding women should be vaccinated, 127 thought breastfeeding women should not be vaccinated, and 46 thought they should be vaccinated. While 245 healthcare professionals reported that they had the COVID-19 vaccine, 213 were recommended to their close friends, and 215 recommended the patients be vaccinated for COVID-19. The vaccines most trusted by healthcare professionals are Sinovac/Coronovac (47.7%), Biontech (18.5%), Domestic COVID-19 vaccine (5%), Oxford AZ (4.3%), Moderna (4%), and Sputnik V (3.3%). Conclusion: In our study, it was concluded that in the first days of the application of the COVID-19 vaccine, healthcare professionals do not have enough knowledge about COVID-19 vaccines, they are worried about COVID-19 vaccines, and they are worried about the protection of the vaccine, and the most reliable COVID-19 vaccine is Sinovac/Coronovac vaccine. Multidimensional studies are needed to increase COVID-19 vaccination rates.

Keywords

• COVID-19 disease
• COVID-19 vaccines
• Knowledge level
• Health workers

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