Explore the reasons for SARS-CoV-2 vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers: a cross-sectional study

Vaccine hesitancy is described by the WHO as “a delay in acceptance or refusal of safe immunizations notwithstanding the availability of vaccine services.” In Ethiopia, the cumulative acceptance rate of the COVID-19 vaccination was 57.8%. Ethiopia had a lower rate of COVID-19 vaccination acceptance than was required to create herd immunity. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine reluctance and its contributing factors. Based on the findings of the study, recommendations were made to the relevant bodies in order to reduce vaccine hesitancy and increase vaccination acceptability. OBJECTIVES: A cross-sectional online-based study was conducted to better understand the reasons for SARS-CoV-2 vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Oromia regional state, Ethiopia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey using an internet platform was conducted from 18 June 2021, to 29 June 2022. A multistage cluster sampling strategy was used to find participants, with each cluster representing a sampling unit made up of a set of population elements. Participants are then randomly chosen from those clusters. The data were entered in Epi Info 7.2.0.1, then exported to Microsoft Excel and imported into statistical programs for social sciences (26.0 version) for statistical analysis. Statistical significance was considered to be a P value of less than 0.05. RESULTS: Four hundred twenty-two HCWs completed the online survey. The majority of the HCWs were male (n=234, 55.5%), urban residents (n=396, 93.8%), protestants (n=168, 39.8%), and married people (n=232, 55.0%). The prevalence of HCWs reluctant to receive the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination was 69.7% (n=294). Age from 19 to 34 [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) =1.48, 95% CI: 1.69–7.42, P=<0.001], female sex (AOR =3.68, 95% CI =1.370–6.413, P=0.002), income between 3501 and 8500 ETB (AOR =1.67, 95% CI =1.380–5.697, P=0.048), information from websites (AOR =1.79, 95% CI =1.720–31.179, P=0.013), vaccine skepticism (AOR =4.75, 95% CI =3.210–8.152, P=0.009), and potential adverse effects of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (AOR =2.18, 95% CI =1.732–5.248, P=0.043) were independent predictors of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine hesitancy among HCWs. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: HCWs were reluctant to get the SARS-CoV-2 immunization at a high percentage overall. To reduce hesitancy to receive the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination among HCWs, the Oromia regional state health bureau should be required to increase HCWs’ knowledge of the COVID-19 vaccine by providing proper training for all HCWs.