COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy among dental and medical students

Medical Students' Attitudes Toward the COVID-19 Vaccine and Medical School Vaccine Education: A Survey Study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to investigate how demographic factors influence medical students' attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines and their perceptions of vaccine education in medical school curricula.

METHODS

A 28-question anonymous online survey was distributed to 640 medical students at one academic medical institution. Individual attitudes toward vaccines were evaluated using a 5-point Likert scale. Responses were tested for association with various demographic factors using the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test.

RESULTS

Two-hundred and forty-four responses out of 640 total surveyed revealed that 97.9% of the students had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine, 68.44% supported mandatory vaccinations, 16.81% did not believe vaccination protects others from getting sick, and 66.4% supported vaccine personal choice, with men showing a statistically stronger belief than women (p=0.0046). Approximately 25.1% of the students reported not receiving sufficient vaccine education in medical school and only 12.4% of all students considered medical school curricula as their most trusted source of vaccine information. Moreover, 8.6% of the students would not encourage patients to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and 8.2% were uncomfortable discussing patients' concerns. Unvaccinated students were more likely to not encourage patients to receive the vaccine (p<0.0001) and were more inclined to believe that acquiring natural immunity was preferable to vaccination (p<0.0001). One hundred percent of very conservative students, 97.8% of slightly conservative students, and students associated with any religion displayed statistical significance in endorsing vaccine personal choice (p=<0.0001), particularly among Christians (p=<0.0001). In contrast, 28% of very liberal and 48.3% of slightly liberal students agreed (p<0.0001). Additionally, the majority of liberal students agreed vaccines prevent the spread of disease while only 75% of conservative, independent, and neutral students agreed (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Despite high compliance, this cohort significantly demonstrated concern toward the COVID-19 vaccine, particularly those who were unvaccinated, had conservative political associations, and belonged to certain religious groups. These findings suggest identifying factors that impede medical education and an understanding of vaccines in order to improve physician training. We recommend an expanded medical curriculum to address these issues.

Acceptance-Hesitancy of COVID-19 Vaccination and Factors Affecting It in Adults: Systematic Review Study

BACKGROUND

Despite the advent of vaccines against COVID-19, there is considerable variation in the acceptance and hesitancy towards the vaccination program across different countries. The objective of this study was to ascertain the prevalence of hesitancy and acceptance regarding the use of the vaccine against the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, and to identify the factors that influence these attitudes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All the cross-sectional studies were retrieved from the PubMed databases, the Web of Science ISI, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library. Papers published in English between 2 November 2019 and 23 May 2023 were subjected to further assessment based on their title, abstract, and main text, with a view to ensuring their relevance to the present study.

RESULTS

Following an exhaustive investigation, 59 studies were selected for screening in this systematic review. The most frequently employed method of data collection was the online survey. The study sample comprised 59.12% women and 40.88% men, with ages ranging from 16 to 78 years. The proportion of individuals accepting the vaccine ranged from 13% to 96%, while the proportion of those exhibiting hesitancy ranged from 0% to 57.5%. The primary reasons for accepting the COIVD-19 vaccine were a heightened perception of risk associated with the virus and a general trust in the healthcare system. The most frequently cited reasons for vaccine hesitancy in the context of the ongoing pandemic include concerns about the potential dangers of the vaccines, the rapid pace of their development, the possibility of adverse effects (such as infertility or death), and the assumption that they have been designed to inject microchips.

DISCUSSION

A variety of socio-demographic factors are implicated in determining the rate of vaccine acceptance. A number of socio-demographic factors have been identified as influencing vaccine acceptance. These include high income, male gender, older age, marriage, the presence of older children who have been vaccinated and do not have chronic diseases, high education, and health insurance coverage.

CONCLUSION

Eliminating vaccine hesitancy or increasing vaccine acceptance is a crucial factor that should be addressed through various means and in collaboration with regulatory and healthcare organizations.

Assessment of COVID-19 Vaccine Knowledge, Uptake, and Factors Influencing its Uptake Among Medical Students at the University of Jos

Background

COVID-19 vaccination is crucial to containing the pandemic. COVID-19 vaccine knowledge, attitudes, and uptake among medical students are vital, as they are future healthcare professionals expected to promote vaccination. This study assessed the knowledge of the COVID-19 vaccine, its uptake, and associated factors among medical students.

Methodology

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 245 medical students at the University of Jos, Nigeria. Participants were selected using stratified random sampling. Data was collected via a self-administered questionnaire and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results

The median knowledge score was 8, with an interquartile range (IQR) of 3. Most participants had low knowledge of the COVID-19 vaccine (65.7%), while a minority had high knowledge (34.3%). The overall vaccine coverage was 20%. Gender and tribe were significantly associated with vaccine uptake. Males were more likely to receive the vaccine than females (24.3% vs. 12.9%, p = 0.039), and participants from the Igbo tribe were less likely to receive the vaccine than those from the Yoruba tribe (0% vs. 29.4%, p = 0.002). Additionally, being tested for COVID-19 was significantly associated with vaccine uptake (p < 0.001). Factors influencing COVID-19 vaccination decisions were access to accurate information (68.9%, p < 0.001), healthcare professionals' recommendations (31.1%, p < 0.001), concerns about safety and side effects (26.6%, p < 0.006), self-protection (19.5%, p = 0.011), government guidelines (39.6%, p < 0.001), vaccine availability (38.0%, p = 0.005), and the availability and convenience of vaccination centres (33.7%, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

There was low COVID-19 vaccine knowledge and uptake among medical students. Gender, tribe, access to information, healthcare guidance, and practical barriers influenced vaccination decisions. Targeted education and provider involvement are needed to address hesitancy in this critical population.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among medical students, health professionals, and health care workers: an umbrella review

Vaccination provides great protection against several infections, including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the endeavor faces multiple context-specific problems that affect its uptake, leading to vaccine hesitancy. Vaccine hesitancy is a focal barrier to the success of COVID-19 vaccination programs. This umbrella review aimed to present a summary of global data regarding vaccine hesitancy and acceptance rates among medical students, health professionals, and health care workers. In this regard, two databases, PubMed and Scopus, were selected for data retrieval and analysis. A search term and an inclusion/exclusion criterion were applied to summarize the findings of existing systematic reviews. A pooled prevalence of vaccine acceptance and hesitancy with 95% confidence interval (CI) was taken as a prerequisite for this review. The results found a high percentage of COVID-19 vaccination ranging from 13.1% (95% CI, 6.9%-20.9%) to 46% (95% CI, 0.38%-0.54%), while the percentage of acceptance varied from 46% (95% CI, 37%-54%) to 83.0% (95% CI, 71%-96%) among medical students, health professionals, and health care workers. This umbrella review found a high percentage of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among medical students, health professionals, and health care workers. Further studies analyzing the determinants of vaccine hesitancy are important predictors for successful vaccination programs at the global level.

Lichen planus after COVID-19 infection and vaccination

BACKGROUND

Lichen planus is one of the common adverse reactions after COVID-19 infection and vaccination. Despite it being reported in several case reports, the literature including a large sample of the studied population is lacking. The current study was performed to assess the risk of LP after COVID-19 infection as well as COVID-19 vaccination.

METHODS

The current study was designed as a retrospective cross-sectional hospital-based study of registered patients at the University of Florida (UF) health centers. The diagnoses of LP, COVID-19 infection, and COVID-19 vaccines were detected. The logistic regression model was used to assess the risk of developing LP after COVID-19 infection and vaccination.

RESULTS

A total hospital patient of 684,110 attended UF Health centers were included in this study. 181 patients reported LP after COVID-19 vaccination and 24 patients developed LP after COVID-19 infection. The risk of developing LP after COVID-19 vaccination was 1.573 while the risk of developing LP after COVID-19 infection was 1.143.

CONCLUSION

The odds of getting LP after COVID-19 vaccination are significantly developed. The current study showed that COVID-19 infection and vaccination are associated with LP. So, healthcare practitioners should be aware of this reaction for rapid recognition and treatment.

Do Not Throw Away Your Shot: Pilot Study in Improving Medical School Curricula Through Focused Vaccine Education

Introduction

With widely prevalent vaccine hesitancy and medical mistrust, future healthcare providers require knowledge of vaccines and comfort in discussing vaccines with patients. However, many U.S. medical schools do not offer formal or elective curricula focused on vaccine education.

Methods

We sought to identify the need for such a curriculum and student gaps in knowledge through a pilot study surveying first- and second-year medical students at a large Pennsylvania medical school to assess knowledge about vaccine initiatives/policies, comfort in discussing vaccines, attitudes toward curricular changes, and effects of COVID-19 on willingness for vaccine education.

Results

Many participants (>40%) reported insufficient knowledge of vaccine policy, vaccine development and testing, and community vaccine initiatives. The majority (>50%) indicated discomfort in discussing vaccines in a clinical setting. Importantly, 79% of participants reported insufficient coverage of vaccine topics in the current curriculum. A total of 54% decisively wanted formal/mandatory education versus 72% who decisively wanted elective education. Desiring formal education was associated with less comfort in discussing vaccines overall and with vaccine-hesitant people in clinical settings. Reassuringly, 74% of participants noted that the COVID-19 pandemic made them want to learn more about vaccines. Guided by these findings, we conducted a pilot elective teaching about vaccines through case studies, interactive discussions, and role-playing scenarios. Pre- and postcourse surveys showed improvement in student knowledge in all vaccine-related topics assessed.

Conclusions

These data can inform the development of formal and elective curricula that effectively prepare medical students for patients' vaccine questions.

Surname order and revaccination intentions during the COVID-19 pandemic

Teachers in Japanese schools employ alphabetical surname lists that call students sooner, with surnames appearing early on these lists. We conducted Internet surveys nearly every month from March 2020 to September 2022 with the same participants, wherein we asked participants where the alphabetical columns of their childhood and adult surnames were located. We aimed to identify how surname order is important for the formation of noncognitive skills. During the data collection period, the COVID-19 vaccines became available; Japanese people could receive their third dose starting in December 2021. The 19th wave of the survey was conducted in January 2022. Therefore, to examine how a surname's alphabetical order could influence intention to revaccinate, we used a subsample of data from December 2021 to September 2022. The major findings were as follows. Women with early surnames had an approximately 4% stronger likelihood of having such intentions than men with early surnames. Early name order was more strongly correlated with revaccination intention among women than among men. The surname effect for women was larger when a mixed-gender list was used compared with when it was not used. This effect was only observed for childhood surnames and not for adult surnames.

Assessment of COVID-19 vaccine take-up and its predictors among healthcare professionals in public hospitals, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Facility-based cross-sectional study

Healthcare professionals (HCPs) are among the highly exposed groups for the COVID-19 pandemic and have been identified as the target population to get vaccination against the spread of the infection. Aimed to assess COVID-19 vaccine take-up and its predictors among HCPs in public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2021. A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 403 randomly selected participants from October 1st to November 30, 2021. Data was entered into Epi-info version 7 and analyzed using SPSS version 25. An AOR along with a 95% confidence level was estimated, and a P value <.05 was considered to declare the statistical significance. About 71% of the participants had taken any of the COVID-19 vaccines at least once. Being married (AOR: 10.79; 95% CI: 1.32-18.05); educational status of MSc degree (AOR = 7.7; CI: 2.08-15.1.6), medical doctors/GP (AOR = 5.88; CI: 1.60-15.54), MD with MSc (AOR = 9.63; CI: 2.17-17.76), PHD (AOR = 13.33; CI: 1.23-24.21) and specialist and above 3 (AOR = 3.45; CI: 2.34-42.8) holder HCPs; perceived severity of COVID-19 infection as moderate (AOR = 0.23; CI: 0.08-0.65) and mild (AOR = 0.28; CI: 0.11-0.74) and poor knowledge toward COVID-19 vaccination (AOR = 0.03; CI: 0.01-0.12) were statistically associated. This study showed that COVID-19 vaccine take-up among HCPs was relatively low to achieve herd immunity. Participants' marital status, educational status, perception of the severity of COVID-19 infection, and level of knowledge toward COVID-19 vaccines were the predictors of the COVID-19 vaccine take-up.

Novel COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and acceptance, and associated factors, amongst medical students: a scoping review

Medical students are likely to be exposed to COVID-19 patients so achieving high vaccination coverage rates for this group of healthcare workers is important, as is their potential as vaccination role models. The aim of this scoping review was to evaluate the current literature to determine the rates of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and acceptance, and associated factors, amongst medical students. Systematic searches of the Medline Ovid, Embase, PubMed, and Education Resources Information Centre (ERIC) online databases was conducted for relevant articles with keywords: 'COVID-19', 'vaccine hesitancy & acceptance' and 'medical students'. Articles were included for review if they reported the rates of vaccine hesitancy and acceptance, and associated factors, amongst medical students. Of the 258 articles identified, 52 met the inclusion criteria and underwent full-text review. Rates of vaccine hesitancy ranged from 5.4-86.7%, with generally positive attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination. The main factors associated with vaccine hesitancy were concerns about the safety and efficacy of vaccines due to their accelerated development, being a pre-clinical medical student, and low perceived personal risk of COVID-19 infection. Inconsistencies were found for the influence of gender on attitudes towards vaccinations. Previous vaccination behaviours were predictive of willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Knowledge about COVID-19 vaccinations and their importance was found to be deficient amongst vaccine hesitant medical students. Generally, medical students express low levels of vaccine hesitancy. However, due to the variability in the factors associated with vaccine hesitancy across different populations and the dynamic and contextual nature of hesitancy, it is recommended that vaccination intent and associated attitudes are monitored on a longitudinal basis. It is important to map vaccine hesitancy at a local level to allow medical schools to develop strategies to encourage vaccination specific to their school's needs.

Assessing the impact of COVID-19 passes and mandates on disease transmission, vaccination intention, and uptake: a scoping review

PURPOSE

Policymakers have struggled to maintain SARS-CoV-2 transmission at levels that are manageable to contain the COVID-19 disease burden while enabling a maximum of societal and economic activities. One of the tools that have been used to facilitate this is the so-called "COVID-19 pass". We aimed to document current evidence on the effectiveness of COVID-19 passes, distinguishing their indirect effects by improving vaccination intention and uptake from their direct effects on COVID-19 transmission measured by the incidence of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.

METHODS

We performed a scoping review on the scientific literature of the proposed topic covering the period January 2021 to September 2022, in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines for scoping reviews.

RESULTS

Out of a yield of 4,693 publications, 45 studies from multiple countries were retained for full-text review. The results suggest that implementing COVID-19 passes tends to reduce the incidence of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths due to COVID-19. The use of COVID-19 passes was also shown to improve overall vaccination uptake and intention, but not in people who hold strong anti-COVID-19 vaccine beliefs.

CONCLUSION

The evidence from the literature we reviewed tends to indicate positive direct and indirect effects from the use of COVID-19 passes. A major limitation to establishing this firmly is the entanglement of individual effects of multiple measures being implemented simultaneously.

COVID-19 vaccination intention among nursing, medical, and dental students: A systematic review and meta-regression analysis

The introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine amidst the pandemic has heralded a paradigm shift. Healthcare students in nursing, medicine, and dentistry must have positive attitudes owing to their future role in vaccine recommendations to the public and patients. This meta-regression analysis assessed the differences in COVID-19 vaccination intention (VI) of nursing, medical, and dental students. Medline/PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Korean MBASE were searched for eligible studies. Quality was assessed by the Joanna Briggs Institute's quality appraisal. Forty-one studies were included in the final analysis, and the estimation of pooled prevalence (68%) and relevant factors were assessed. Dental students were found to have the lowest VI (57%), which significantly (p = .018) differed from that of nursing students (64%). Countries in South-East Asia and those with high income levels were found to have high VI. Therefore, global vaccine programs for healthcare students should be prepared considering their geographical and economic status.

Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccines in India: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis sought to evaluate the acceptability levels for COVID vaccine(s) in various states in India. Published articles in PubMed/Scopus/Cochrane/DOAJ/the Web of Science that focused on assessing COVID-19 vaccine hesitation/vaccine acceptance using a survey/questionnaire were included. After extensive research, 524 records were found, and after screening on the basis of eligibility criteria, only 23 papers were added to this review. Increased vaccine assumption percentage (>70%) among the population was found in two surveys nationwide (92.8%) and in Delhi (79.5%). For pooled estimates of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and heterogeneity, twenty-three studies (23) consisting of 39,567 individuals reported for acceptance of COVID 19 vaccine in India.. Out of these, 26,028 individuals accepted the COVID-19 vaccine, giving a pooled estimate of 62.6% (95% CI: 55.6-69.4) with considerable heterogeneity (χ² = 3397.3, p < 0.0001; I² = 99.40%). The results of this study give a brief insight into the percentage acceptance and hesitancy among the Indian population regarding COVID-19 vaccine immunisation. Future research and vaccine education initiatives can be steered by the findings of this work as a starting point.

Healthcare Workers' Attitudes towards Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 vaccine mandates are considered a controversial public health policy both in public debate and among healthcare workers (HCWs). Thus, the objective of this systematic review is to give a deep insight into HCWs' views and attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination mandates amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

A systematic literature search of five databases (PubMed, Scopus, Embase, CINAHL, and Web of Science) was conducted between July 2022 and November 2022. Original quantitative studies that addressed the attitudes of HCWs regarding COVID-19 vaccine mandates were considered eligible for this systematic review. All the included studies (n = 57) were critically appraised and assessed for risk of systematic bias. Meta-analyses were performed, providing a pooled estimate of HCWs' acceptance towards COVID-19 vaccine mandates for: 1. HCWs and 2. the general population.

RESULTS

In total, 64% (95% CI: 55%, 72%) of HCWs favored COVID-19 vaccine mandates for HCWs, while 50% (95% CI: 38%, 61%) supported mandating COVID-19 vaccines for the general population.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that mandatory vaccination against COVID-19 is a highly controversial issue among HCWs. The present study provides stakeholders and policy makers with useful evidence related to the compulsory or non-compulsory nature of COVID-19 vaccinations for HCWs and the general population. Other: The protocol used in this review is registered on PROSPERO with the ID number: CRD42022350275.

Impact of DHCWs' Safety Perception on Vaccine Acceptance and Adoption of Risk Mitigation Strategies

OBJECTIVES

To estimate the association between safety perception on vaccine acceptance and adoptions of risk mitigation strategies among dental health care workers (DHCWs).

METHODS

A survey was emailed to DHCWs in the New Jersey area from December 2020 to January 2021. Perceived safety from regular SARS-CoV-2 testing of self, coworkers, and patients and its association with vaccine hesitancy and risk mitigation were ascertained. Risk Mitigation Strategy (RiMS) scores were computed from groupings of office measures: 1) physical distancing (reduced occupancy, traffic flow, donning of masks, minimal room crowding), 2) personal protective equipment (fitted for N95; donning N95 masks; use of face shields; coverings for head, body, and feet), and 3) environmental disinfection (suction, air filtration, ultraviolet, surface wiping).

RESULTS

SARS-CoV-2 testing of dental professionals, coworkers, and patients were perceived to provide safety at 49%, 55%, and 68%, respectively. While dentists were least likely to feel safe with regular self-testing for SARS-CoV-2 (P < 0.001) as compared with hygienists and assistants, they were more willing than hygienists (P = 0.004; odds ratio, 1.79 [95% CI, 1.21 to 2.66]) and assistants (P < 0.001; odds ratio, 3.32 [95% CI, 1.93 to 5.71]) to receive the vaccine. RiMS scores ranged from 0 to 19 for 467 participants (mean [SD], 10.9 [2.9]). RiMS scores did not significantly differ among groups of DHCWs; however, mean RiMS scores were higher among those who received or planned to receive the COVID-19 vaccine than those with who did not (P = 0.004). DHCWs who felt safer with regular testing had greater RiMS scores than those who did not (11.0 vs. 10.3, P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Understanding DHCWs' perception of risk and safety is crucial, as it likely influences attitudes toward testing and implementation of office risk mitigation policies. Clinical studies that correlate risk perception and RiMS with SARS-CoV-2 testing are needed to demonstrate the effectiveness of RiMS in dental care settings.

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER STATEMENT

Educators, clinicians, and policy makers can use the results of this study when improving attitudes toward testing and implementation of risk mitigation policies within dental offices, for current and future pandemics.

Vaccine Acceptance, Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Sectional Study among Dentists in Trinidad and Tobago

Background: This study’s aim was to assess Trinidad and Tobago dentists’ vaccine acceptance, knowledge, attitude and practices regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: All dentists registered with the Trinidad and Tobago Dental Association were invited to complete an online anonymous questionnaire between June and October 2021. Results: A total of 46.2% of dentists responded. The majority of respondents had excellent knowledge of COVID-19 (94.8%), use of personal protective equipment (98.7%) and N95 masks (93.5%), but had poor knowledge about the reuse of N95 masks (27.5%). A total of 34.9% were comfortable providing emergency care to positive or suspected cases of COVID-19, and 64.5% were afraid of becoming infected from a patient. PPE usage was reported at 97.4% and 67.3% for N95 masks. All surfaces of waiting areas were disinfected every 2 h by 59.2%. A total of 90.8% agreed to be vaccinated straight away if a vaccine were made available. Conclusion: Dentists in Trinidad and Tobago have good levels of knowledge, attitude, practices regarding COVID-19. Dentists also have high levels of vaccine acceptance and can play a role in advocating for the COVID-19 vaccine.

Acceptance and hesitancy to receive COVID-19 vaccine among university students in Egypt: a nationwide survey

BACKGROUND

The public's willingness to be vaccinated will determine the success of the COVID-19 vaccination program. The aim of this study was to identify acceptance and hesitancy to receive COVID-19 vaccine among university students in Egypt, assess their level of knowledge about COVID-19 vaccine and identify factors that influence their intention towards COVID-19 vaccination.

METHODS

A standardized and self-administered questionnaire was distributed among university students allover Egypt. The questionnaire included sociodemographic data, intention to receive COVID-19 vaccine, knowledge and beliefs about it and status of COVID-19 vaccination. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine acceptancy.

RESULTS

A total of 1071 of university students were involved, with a mean age of 20.51 years (SD = 1.66) and 68.2% were females. COVID-19 vaccination acceptability rate was 69.0% while hesitancy was 20.8% and resistancy was 10.2%. Median knowledge score of 4 out of 8 (IQR = 8). The main motivation for vaccine acceptance was fear of being infected (53.6%) and desire to get back to normal life (51.0%) while the main barriers against getting vaccinated were being afraid of serious side effects. Univariate regression analysis revealed an increasing likelihood of vaccine acceptancy associated with an active lifestyle (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.04-1.75, p = 0.025), a high knowledge score (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.42-1.66, p < 0.001), and positive vaccine beliefs.

CONCLUSION

There is a high rate of acceptability of COVID-19 vaccination among university students. Vaccine acceptability is associated with an active lifestyle, a high knowledge score and positive vaccine beliefs. Educational campaigns and efforts aiming to raise awareness about safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines need to be directed to this important population.

Synthetic Control and Comparative Studies on Covid-19 Vaccines Enrollment and Hesitancy in Africa.. [DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2650802/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0]

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of vaccines in the fight against infectious diseases. However, the rollout of vaccines in Africa has been slow and uneven. This study uses synthetic control and comparative analysis to examine the factors that have contributed to differences in vaccine enrollment in African countries. Using data from the World Health Organization and other sources, we constructed a synthetic control group of countries that were similar in African countries in terms of demographic, economic, and health characteristics. We then used a difference-in-differences approach to compare the vaccine enrollment rates of each African country with its synthetic control group. Our analysis showed that government support, health infrastructure, and access to vaccines were significant factors that contributed to differences in vaccine enrollment rates in African countries. Countries with stronger government support and better health infrastructure tended to have higher vaccine enrollment rates. Access to vaccines, including availability, affordability, and distribution, was also a significant factor. Additionally, the use of synthetic control and comparative analysis can provide valuable insights into the factors that contribute to differences in vaccine enrollment rates in different countries. In conclusion, the slow and uneven rollout of vaccines in Africa has been a significant challenge in the fight against COVID-19. Policymakers and public health officials should prioritize efforts to strengthen health infrastructure, provide greater government support for vaccine rollout efforts, and improve access to vaccines. The use of synthetic control and comparative analysis can provide valuable insights into the factors that contribute to differences in vaccine enrollment rates in different countries, and should be considered in future research.

Vaccine Hesitancy among Medical Students at a Tertiary Hospital-Affiliated Medical School

INTRODUCTION

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused a global pandemic with long-lasting economic and cultural impacts. International governments have attempted to scale up vaccine production to mitigate this crisis. However, vaccine hesitancy, particularly among healthcare providers, remains an understudied subject that may hinder vaccine effectiveness.

METHODS

We performed a cross-sectional study to evaluate vaccine hesitancy among medical students using a pre-validated survey based on the 5C model of psychological antecedents, which includes confidence, complacency, constraints, calculation, and collective responsibility.

RESULTS

The majority of medical students had high scores for confidence (79.7%), non-complacency (88%), and not having constraints against receiving the COVID-19 vaccine (97.4%). Surprisingly, students had low scores for calculation (38%) and collective responsibility (14.7%). Many predictors of the psychological antecedents included in the 5C model have been reported, including academic year and gender.

CONCLUSION

We observed moderate levels of vaccine hesitancy among the medical students included in our study. We urge medical students to be more aware of community public health concerns. We recommend that authorized institutions lay out urgent reforms to increase awareness of COVID-19 and available vaccines.

COVID-19 vaccine uptake and vaccine hesitancy in rural-to-urban migrant workers at the first round of COVID-19 vaccination in China

BACKGROUND

Migration can be linked to the transmission of COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccine uptake and hesitancy among rural-to-urban migrant workers in China, the largest group of internal migrants in the world, has not been characterized.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate COVID-19 vaccine uptake and identify vaccine hesitancy-associated factors among rural-to-urban migrant workers in the first round of COVID-19 vaccination in China.

METHODS

A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted, including 14,917 participants. Socio-demographics, COVID-19 vaccine uptake, vaccine hesitancy and its associated factors based on Vaccine Hesitancy Determinants Matrix (VHDM) were applied for the survey. Data were principally analyzed by logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

The COVID-19 vaccine uptake and vaccine hesitancy rates were 7.1% and 57.7%, respectively. Vaccine hesitancy was strongly associated with VHDM, including individual factors (female, higher annual income and fewer medical knowledge), group factors (less family support, friend support and public opinion support), COVID-19 epidemic factors (lower fatality, infection and emotional distress) and vaccine factors (less vaccine necessity, vaccine safety, vaccine efficacy, vaccine importance and vaccine reliability).

CONCLUSION

The VHDM model has the potential utility in efforts to reduce COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Greater efforts should be put into addressing positive predictors associated with vaccine hesitancy.

Knowledge, Attitudes, Perceptions, and Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccination among Pharmacy and Non-Pharmacy Students

University students are a sub-group of the population at high risk of COVID-19 infection, and their judgments on vaccination affect the public attitudes towards vaccination. Thus, the present study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, and acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine among pharmacy and non-pharmacy students. A cross-sectional study was conducted by enrolling pharmacy (375) and non-pharmacy (225) students from the universities in Lahore. Chi-square analysis was used for significant frequency distributions and a 5-point Likert scale was used to score attitude, perception, and acceptance. The majority of the students were aged between 19-24 years, hailing from urban and middle-class families with good self-reported health. The preferred vaccine was Pfizer, followed by Sinopharm and Sinovac. The major source of information was social media, followed by government campaigns and family members. The pharmacy students demonstrated better knowledge and positive attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination. The non-pharmacy students scored higher for the questions based on scientific leads, myths, and baffling conspiracies. The non-pharmacy students showed higher hesitancy/barrier total scores related to their trust in the health system, COVID-19 vaccine storage, and efficacy. Data suggested that pharmacy students exhibited better knowledge, positive attitudes, and perceptions about COVID-19 vaccination. Overall, vaccine efficacy and safety were mutual concerns. Nonetheless, non-pharmacy students were hesitant due to mistrust in the health system of Pakistan.

COVID-19 infection rates and mitigation strategies in orthodontic practices

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 has impacted and increased risks for all populations, including orthodontic patients and providers. It also changes the practice management and infection control landscape in the practices. This study aimed to investigate the COVID-19 infection and vaccination status of orthodontic providers and mitigation approaches in orthodontic practices in the United States during 2021.

METHODS

A validated 50-question research electronic data capture (REDCap) browser-based questionnaire was distributed to 12,393 orthodontists and pediatric dentists who reported actively providing orthodontic treatment. Questions were designed to collect demographic data of respondents, evaluate the COVID-19 mitigation approaches, and evaluate the history of COVID-19 infection and vaccination status of the orthodontic providers. Associations of demographic and the COVID-19 mitigation approaches were assessed using chi-square tests at the significance level of 0.05.

RESULTS

Four hundred fifty-seven returned the survey (response rate 3.69%) for analysis. Most respondents were vaccinated, and increased infection control measures in response to the pandemic. Half of the respondents practiced teledentistry and switched to digital impression systems. Two-thirds reported difficulties in attaining PPEs due to the increased cost and scarcity of PPEs. About 6% of respondents reported a history of COVID-19 infection, and 68.9% of their staff had COVID-19 infection. Statistically significant associations were found between increased practice experience with difficulties in acquiring PPE (p = .010). There were no significant associations between races of respondents, geographic location, and years of practicing when cross-tabulated with vaccination status or COVID-19 infection rate (p > .05).

CONCLUSION

Increased infection control strategies were employed in almost all orthodontic practices in addition to existing universal precaution. Most of the orthodontic providers and their staff members were vaccinated. While staff's infection rates were an issue, doctors' infection rates remained low.

Motivators, Barriers, and Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccination among Residents of Western Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND

There are limited studies that have assessed COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and side effects, both globally and in the western region of Saudi Arabia (SA).

OBJECTIVE

This study assessed the acceptance of vaccination against COVID-19, determined motivators and barriers for taking these vaccines, and assessed vaccine side effects in the western region of SA.

STUDY DESIGN

The study was an online cross-sectional study conducted among the people who lived in the western region of SA during the period from December 2021 to March 2022. Participation was voluntary for participants who were above 18 and lived in the Western region of SA. Children and those living in other countries were excluded from the study.

METHODS

The study tool was a self-administered questionnaire which assessed COVID-19 vaccine acceptance, determined motivators and barriers for taking the vaccines, and assessed their side effects among 1136 participants in the western region of SA. Data gathered were analyzed by the SSPS version 22 software.

RESULT

A total of 1136 individuals, aged 18 years and above, participated in the study, with 50.7% (n = 567) being males. Most of the participants were from Taif city (68.4%; n = 777), and 57.6% (n = 654) were unmarried. Pfizer was the most frequently administered vaccine (72.8%; n = 823). Most participants explained that their vaccine administration protected themselves and their families (70.5%; n = 835). The acceptance showed that 55% (n = 626) of the participants had either very high or high confidence in the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines, while 14.7% (n = 167) of them had low/very low confidence in its efficacy. The side effects showed that 80.8% (n = 918) of the participants showed that they did not have any difficulties attributed to COVID-19 vaccine administration. Positive attitudes and practices were apparent, and most of the participants (78.3%; n = 889) tended to be actors in the fight against COVID-19.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study showed a high level of acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination among people living in the western region of SA. Health education and communication from authoritative sources will be important to alleviate public concerns about COVID-19 vaccine safety.

Awareness and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines and associated factors among pharmacy students in Zambia

Aim

This study aimed to assess the awareness and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines and associated factors among pharmacy students in Zambia.

Materials and Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study among 326 undergraduate pharmacy students in Lusaka, Zambia, from February to April 2021. Data were analysed using Stata version 16.1. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine key factors influencing vaccine acceptance.

Results

Of the 326 participants, 98.8% were aware of the COVID-19 vaccines, but only 24.5% would accept vaccination. Compared to other religions, being of Christian faith was associated with reduced odds of awareness of the COVID-19 vaccine (aOR=0.01, 95% CI: 0.01-0.20). Conversely, factors associated with vaccine acceptance were being male, single and unemployed. Compared to females, male respondents were 86% more likely to accept the vaccine if it was made available (aOR=1.86, 95% CI: 1.10-3.14). In addition, unmarried respondents were 2.65 times as likely to accept vaccination than married respondents (aOR=2.65, 95% CI: 1.06-6.63). Conversely, unemployed respondents were less likely to accept vaccination than their employed counterparts (aOR=0.32, 95% CI: 0.16-0.46). Barriers to the acceptability of the vaccine were possible side effects (78.5%) and scepticism about its effectiveness (10.2%).

Conclusion

There was significant vaccine hesitancy toward COVID-19 vaccines among Zambian pharmacy students despite their awareness of the vaccines. Health authorities must work collaboratively with training institutions to mitigate vaccine hesitancy, especially with healthcare students being a key part of the future healthcare workforce overseeing disease prevention strategies.

Attitudes of COVID-19 vaccination among college students: A systematic review and meta-analysis of willingness, associated determinants, and reasons for hesitancy

The significance of COVID-19 vaccine has been declared and this study synthesizes the attitudes and determinants in vaccination hesitancy of college students. We searched in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and CNKI to enroll the related studies. The modified NOS was used for quality evaluation. Proportion and OR with 95% CI were pooled to estimate the acceptance rates and determinants of COVID-19 vaccination. Data of 34 studies involving 42 countries were pooled. The pooled acceptance rate of COVID-19 vaccination among all the college students was 69% and varies between countries, while medical students have a slightly higher acceptancy rate. Knowledge, trust conception, social behavior, and information sources were important for their decision. Most of the college students intended to COVID-19 vaccination, but the proportion varied among countries. Governments should strengthen credibility, convey trusted information with media influences and improve vaccination services in urging students to be vaccinated.

Cross-sectional study of the knowledge, perception and attitude of first-year university students in Iraq towards SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant and COVID-19 vaccines

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to first assess the knowledge and perception of first-year university students in Iraq about COVID-19 in general and SARS-CoV-2 latest variant of concern, and to evaluate the attitudes towards protection measures including vaccination.

STUDY DESIGN

A cross-sectional study was conducted among newly enrolled students at the American University of Iraq-Baghdad. Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to test an association between the outcomes measured on a 5-point Likert scale and the binary and the categorical independent variables, respectively. χ² test was used to test the association between nominal categorical variables, while Kendall's τ-b was used for ordinal variables.

PARTICIPANTS

Students (n=432) were invited to fill out a survey specifically tailored to assess their knowledge, perception and attitude towards Omicron variant and COVID-19 vaccines acceptance. 363 students enrolled in various majors participated in this study.

RESULTS

Assessment of COVID-19 knowledge and perception revealed that students still lack reliable info and data about FDA-approved treatment options (70.5%), SARS-CoV-2 variants (96.5%) and approved vaccines. Students' attitude and practices towards recommended safety measures should be reassessed to better manage the pandemic. Adherence level was shown to be associated with the belief in its capacity to effectively manage the new variant. Interestingly, 85% of the students have received at least one dose of approved vaccine. A significant positive correlation was detected between the level of adherence to recommended precautions and the intention to take a third booster shot if proven effective.

CONCLUSIONS

Students' reliable knowledge about COVID-19 pandemic including the various strains and approved vaccines should be improved to better manage the pandemic and set foundations for a more appropriate approach when another pandemic occurs. Special workshops should be organised to ensure that students and the public have a more trusted source of information about COVID-19.

Predictors of unwillingness to receive COVID -19 vaccines among Ethiopian Medical students

Introduction

Medical students are among the potential risky population for the transmission of COVID 19 infections; their willingness to receive COVID 19 vaccine is not well studied. Thus, this study assessed Predictors of Unwillingness to receive COVID -19 vaccines among Ethiopian Medical students.

Methods

From the 25^th of May, 2020 to the 26^th of June, 2021, an institution-based cross-sectional study was done at Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital,On 313 medical students from each department and batch were chosen using a multistage sampling approach. A bivariate and multivariable logistic regression were done to identify the predictors of Unwillingness to receive COVID -19 vaccines. Figures, tables, and graphs were used to present the findings. The adjusted odds ratio and its 95% confidence interval were provided.

Results

In this study 124 (40.7%) 95% CI (35.1,46.4) medical students were not willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. And also increased in the age of the student[AOR 0.43, 95% CI; (.29,.63)], Knowledge status about COVID 19 infection transmission, risk factors and control behavior[AOR 1.45, 95% CI; (1.14, 1.85)], perceived susceptibility to COVID 19 infection [AOR 1.70 (1.15, 2.51)], perceived severity of COVID 19 infection[AOR 1.26 (1.01, 1.57)], perceived benefit of COVID 19 vaccine [AOR .58(.38, .88)], positive attitude towards COVID 19 vaccines [AOR .46(.35, .62)], and confidence in safety and efficacy of the vaccine and public authorities decissin in the best interest of the community [AOR 1.93(1.24, 2.99)] were predictors of non-willingness to receive COVID 19 vaccine.

Conclusion

Non-willingness to accept the COVID 19 vaccine was predicted by student age, elements in the Health belief model such as anticipated susceptibility, severity, and benefit, and a positive attitude and trust in the vaccine.

Status of knowledge, attitude, and practice of SARSCoV2 vaccine inoculation among college students and the influencing factors

OBJECTIVES

During the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), vaccine is an important way to build and improve the immune barrier of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the population. The purpose of this study is to understand the current situation of knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine inoculation among Chinese college students during the epidemic of COVID-19, and analyze the influencing factors.

METHODS

Using the convenient sampling method, we selected the college students from a comprehensive university in Hunan Province in May 2021 and designed KAP questionnaire about SARS-CoV-2 vaccine inoculation for offline and online survey to analyze the current situation of college students' KAP of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine inoculation and the influenting factors.

RESULTS

The total score of KAP of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine inoculation of Chinese college students was 43.72±5.60. The total score of knowledge was 16.28 ±3.09, and the score of each item was 3.26±0.62. The correct rate of the 5 questions in knowledge was 80.34%, 93.18%, 94.64%, 99.60% and 39.18%, respectively. The total score of attitude was 13.56±2.39, and the score of each item was 3.39±0.60. The total score of behavior was 13.88±2.51, and the score of each item was 3.47±0.63. The total scores of better health status, girls, and medical majors were relatively higher; those of medical majors, older students, and girls had higher scores on vaccination knowledge; those with better health and younger age had higher scores on attitude; those of better health status and girls had higher behavior scores (all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

College students' KAP about SARS-CoV-2 vaccine inoculation is generally high, but the knowledge level is relatively low. We should strengthen the propaganda and education for SARS-CoV-2 vaccine inoculation related knowledge, and strengthen the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine inoculation attitude and behavior of college students. Special attention should be paid to the education of vaccination knowledge for non-medical majors, younger, and male students, the guidance of vaccination attitude for those with poor health and older age, and encouragement of vaccination behavior for those with poor health and boys.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and its drivers among dental students at University of the Western Cape, South Africa

BACKGROUND

Vaccine hesitancy has seen an uprising over the decades, even though there have been many advances regarding vaccine-preventable diseases. Of late, vaccine hesitancy has resurged towards the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine. The SARS-CoV-2 virus has major effects on the human body and has led to the development of different vaccines, which have been shown to provide immunity against the novel coronavirus. Dentists are at an increased risk to COVID-19 because of the nature of their work. It is imperative to have high vaccination coverage for this group.

AIM

The aim of this study is to determine vaccine hesitancy and drivers associated with vaccine hesitancy among dental students at a university in South Africa.

SETTING

A dental school in South Africa was chosen as the setting for this study.

METHODS

An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted by means of an anonymous, online, validated questionnaire to determine vaccine hesitancy.

RESULTS

Of the 205 dental students participated, 83.9% (n = 172) students were vaccine not hesitant. The main concerns regarding the vaccines were identified as safety and efficacy of the vaccine. Pressure by family or friends and the university to get vaccinated was evident.

CONCLUSIONS

Vaccine hesitancy is high despite mandatory vaccination policies in South Africa. Specific drivers contributing to vaccine hesitancy were identified as doubt in the efficacy and safety of the vaccine.

CONTRIBUTION

This study has highlighted the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy among dental students at University of the Western Cape, prior to compulsory vacccination implementations.

Challenges and Opportunities for Dental Education from COVID-19

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, dental education has been profoundly affected by this crisis. First of all, COVID-19 brought physical and psychological health problems to dental students and educators. In addition, both non-clinical teaching and clinical-based training experienced challenges, ranging from fully online educational content to limited dental training, students’ research was delayed in achieving project milestones and there was hesitancy in respect of the COVID-19 vaccine. On the other hand, the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the demand for teledentistry and dental emergency treatment, and brought awareness of the advantages and high-speed development of distance education. This review aims to present these challenges and opportunities for dental education, and suggest how dental institutions should prepare for the future demand for dental education.

Education during the COVID-19 pandemic: the perception of Italian dental and medical students

BACKGROUND

During COVID-19 pandemic many dental and medical students continued their education from home. From several studies it emerges that students prefer face-to-face teaching, due to the better interaction with teachers, the least number of distractions and due to the negative effect of social isolation on the psychological aspect. The aim of this study was to evaluate the perception of Italian dentistry and medicine students about teaching and training in this scenario.

METHODS

Two online questionnaires were sent to medical and dental students of all Italian universities to investigate the limits and advantages of distance learning and the experience regarding the internship. A chi-square test was used to assess the association between gender, year of the course and region of residence (P<0.05).

RESULTS

One thousand one hundred thirty-eight students answered the first survey, and 292 the second one. Most students preferred face-to-face teaching due to the difficult to maintain attention during online lessons. Many students reported that the online internship was not adequate for their education.

CONCLUSIONS

Distance learning disadvantages are the greater number of sources of distraction, low level of interaction, and absence of the relationship with the patient during the practical training. Furthermore, isolation has strongly affected psychosocial balance of the students. The advantages are the greater comfort, the reduction of transport costs, the decrease in pollution, and the possibility of reviewing the lessons. Most Italian students considered appropriate to provide distance learning during the pandemic but believed that the best teaching method was teaching in presence.

Acceptability of the Vaccine against COVID-19 in Spanish Health Sciences Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Healthcare professionals must play an exemplary role in the field of vaccinology. It is convenient that they are trained during their time at university. The objective of this study was to determine the acceptability of the vaccines against COVID-19 in health sciences students in Spanish universities. A cross-sectional study was performed regarding the acceptance of the vaccines against COVID-19 in students in the Health Sciences Degrees in Spanish universities was performed on a sample of students of nursing, medicine, and pharmacy during the spring of 2021, via an online questionnaire with 36 questions designed ad hoc, self-administered, anonymized, and standardized. There were 1222 students participating, of Spanish nationality (97.4%), women (80.5%) and with an average age of 22.0 ± 4.8 years old. Of those, 12.3% had had the disease, 44.0% had to quarantine, 70.8% had undergone diagnostic tests, out of which 14.1% were positive. In total, 97.5% of those surveyed indicated their desire of being vaccinated, if possible, with Comirnaty^® (74.9%). At the time of the study, 49.6% were already vaccinated. The reasons for vaccination differed according to the degree and the doubts about vaccine safety was the largest reason for reluctance. Some 37.7% suspected that there are unknown adverse effects and 85.6% of those vaccinated experienced some mild effects after injection. Vaccine acceptance and confidence in the recommendations given by health authorities is high in health sciences students.

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Health Professional Students: Cross-Sectional Data from the First Wave of the HOLISTIC Cohort Study

Vaccine hesitancy has been observed around the world, but there is a paucity of data among a broad range of U.S. health professional students. The goal of this report is to present findings about COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among a cross-section of U.S. health professional students and determine if hesitancy varies by demographic characteristics, health science college, and other factors. A cross-sectional analysis of HOLISTIC Cohort Study participants enrolled from April 14 2021 to May 5 2021 at seven health sciences colleges in the University of Illinois Chicago was used. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were used to evaluate vaccine hesitancy items and identify domains. Among 555 health professional students, three domains (perceived benefit, trustworthiness, and risk) contribute to vaccine hesitancy. Significant differences were observed in the domains among students of different races as well as vaccination history. Compared to students in the College of Medicine, students in the Colleges of Applied Health Science (OR 0.43; CI [0.19–0.96]), Pharmacy (OR 0.38; CI [0.17–0.87]), Nursing (OR 0.35; CI [0.16–0.78]), and Social Work (OR 0.30; CI [0.11–0.78]) reported lower perceived benefit. Compared to students in the College of Medicine, students in the College of Applied Health Sciences (OR 0.39; CI [0.17–0.94]), Dentistry (OR 0.27; CI [0.10–0.76]), Nursing (OR 0.38; CI [0.16–0.94]), and Social work (OR 0.31; CI [0.11–0.86]) reported more trustworthiness and more concerns about risk (OR 2.80; CI [1.15–6.81] for College of Applied Health Sciences, OR 9.12; CI [2.80–29.75] for Dentistry, OR 3.77; CI [1.47–9.65] for Nursing, OR 3.14; CI [1.02–9.67] for Social Work). Our findings suggest the need for a tailored vaccination strategy among different subgroups of health professional students.

COVID-19 Vaccinating Russian Medical Students-Challenges and Solutions: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: The role of preventive measures increases significantly in the absence of effective specific COVID-19 treatment. Mass population immunization and the achievement of collective immunity are of particular importance. The future development of public attitudes towards SARS-CoV-2 immunization depends significantly on medical students, as future physicians. Therefore, it seemed relevant to determine the percentage of COVID-19-vaccinated medical students and to identify the factors significantly affecting this indicator. Methods: A total of 2890 medical students from years one to six, studying at nine leading Russian medical universities, participated in an anonymous sociological survey. The study was performed in accordance with the STROBE guidelines. Results: It was found that the percentage of vaccinated Russian medical students at the beginning of the academic year 2021 was 58.8 ± 7.69%, which did not significantly differ from the vaccination coverage of the general population in the corresponding regions (54.19 ± 4.83%). Student vaccination rate was largely determined by the region-specific epidemiological situation. The level of student vaccination coverage did not depend on the gender or student residence (in a family or in a university dormitory). The group of senior students had a higher number of COVID-19 vaccine completers than the group of junior students. The lack of reliable information about COVID-19 vaccines had a pronounced negative impact on the SARS-CoV-2 immunization process. Significant information sources influencing student attitudes toward vaccination included medical professionals, medical universities, academic conferences, and manuscripts, which at that time provided the least information. Conclusion: The obtained results make it possible to develop recommendations to promote SARS-CoV-2 immunoprophylaxis among students and the general population and to increase collective immunity.

Medical student attitudes on vaccination relevance: A mixed-method study

Background and objectives

The study aims to investigate the attitudes of medical students regarding the importance and relevance of vaccinations, whether vaccinations should be compulsory and how to employ a new teaching concept to deal with vaccination-critical parents.

Methods

This mixed-method study consists of a quantitative questionnaire and focus groups. Quantitative data were analysed by calculating the descriptive statistics, and interviews were analysed using Mayring’s content analysis.

Results

A total of 170 medical students completed the questionnaire, and 59 students participated in 9 focus groups. Students reported that they felt more confident dealing with vaccination-critical parents after learning the new teaching concept. Similar results were found for medical students prior to and during the pandemic. During the pandemic, medical students viewed vaccinations for several diseases, such as measles or COVID-19, as important (range: M = 3.56, SD = 0.54 to M = 3.97, SD = 0.17). Similar results were found for medical students prior to the pandemic (range: M = 3.26, SD = 0.77 to M = 3.94, SD = 0.24). In the focus groups, however, medical students displayed controversial attitudes regarding compulsory vaccinations.

Conclusions

While the medical students agreed on the use of vaccination for highly infectious diseases, their level of agreement decreased depending on the severity of the disease. Practical recommendations that come out of the study are creating a trustful relationship with and delivering information to patients.

Global Prevalence and Potential Influencing Factors of COVID-19 Vaccination Hesitancy: A Meta-Analysis

Countries worldwide have deployed mass COVID-19 vaccination drives, but there are people who are hesitant to receive the vaccine. Studies assessing the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy are inconclusive. This study aimed to assess the global prevalence of COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy and determine the potential factors associated with such hesitancy. We performed an organized search for relevant articles in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Extraction of the required information was performed for each study. A single-arm meta-analysis was performed to determine the global prevalence of COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy; the potential factors related to vaccine hesitancy were analyzed using a Z-test. A total of 56 articles were included in our analysis. We found that the global prevalence of COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy was 25%. Being a woman, being a 50-year-old or younger, being single, being unemployed, living in a household with five or more individuals, having an educational attainment lower than an undergraduate degree, having a non-healthcare-related job and considering COVID-19 vaccines to be unsafe were associated with a higher risk of vaccination hesitancy. In contrast, living with children at home, maintaining physical distancing norms, having ever tested for COVID-19, and having a history of influenza vaccination in the past few years were associated with a lower risk of hesitancy to COVID-19 vaccination. Our study provides valuable information on COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy, and we recommend special interventions in the sub-populations with increased risk to reduce COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.

Prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in students: A global systematic review

Background: Examining the prevalence of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine hesitancy and understanding what motivates students to accept or reject a newly promoted vaccine has the potential in preventing rapid spread of infection and optimizing country-wide mass vaccination programs. This systematic review aimed to examine global COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among students, and to identify an up-to-date and concise assessment of most common factors influencing vaccine acceptance and hesitancy around the world. Methods: A systematic search of peer-reviewed literatures indexed in reputable databases was performed. After obtaining the results via screening using PRISMA flow diagram, a total of 35 articles met the inclusion criteria and formed the basic structure of the study objectives. Results: The results revealed that, the worldwide pooled COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy rate was (x̅%)=29.8% (95% CI 23.37-36.23) among students. According to the country count assessment, the pooled vaccine hesitancy has been found to be ups and downs across the countries around the world such as  (x̅%)=32% (95% CI 20.04-43.97) in Asia, (x̅%)=(28.11%, 95% CI 18.83-37.40) in the United States, (x̅%)=15.59% (95% CI 8.23-22.95) in Europe, (x̅%)=55.93% (95% CI 40.31-71.55) in Africa, (x̅%)=20.4% in North America, and (x̅%)=22.5% in multi-ethnic areas in the reported student's COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. In total, 10 key factors were identified. "Side effect" 45.41% (95% CI 29.68-61.14), "safety" 42.27% (95% CI 27.50-57.04), and "trust" 44.95%, (95% CI 26.51-63.39) were the overarching concerns in making student's vaccination decisions. Conclusions: The prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy varied among the students; however, vaccine acceptance or refusal relies on several socio-psychological, societal, and vaccine related factors. This study helps the vaccine policy-makers and health stakeholders gain a better understanding of COVID-19 vaccination drive and design the vaccine promotion strategies. Health educational interventions could be the most preferred approach to improve student's adherence and knowledge about the COVID-19 vaccination consequences.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among medical students: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Vaccine hesitancy leads to an increase in morbidity, mortality, and health-care burden. Reasons for vaccine hesitancy include anti-vax group statements, misinformation about vaccine side effects, speed of vaccine development, and general disbelief in the existence of viruses like COVID-19. Medical students are future physicians and are key influencers in the uptake of vaccines. Hence, investigating vaccine hesitancy in this population can help to overcome any barrier in vaccine acceptance.

METHODS

In this paper, we review five articles on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in medical students and consider potential future research. All published papers relevant to the topic were obtained through extensive search using major databases. Inclusion criteria included studies that specifically investigated COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in medical students published between 2020 and 2021. Exclusion criteria included studies that investigated vaccine hesitancy in health-care professionals, allied health, and viruses apart from COVID-19. A total of 10 studies were found from our search.

RESULTS

Based on our exclusion criteria, only five studies were included in our review. The sample size ranged from 168 to 2133 medical students. The percentage of vaccine hesitancy in medical students ranged from 10.6 to 65.1%. Reasons for vaccine hesitancy included concern about serious side effects, vaccine efficacy, misinformation and insufficient information, disbelief in public health experts, financial costs, and belief that they had acquired immunity.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that vaccine hesitancy is an important cause of the incidence and prevalence of COVID-19 cases. Identifying the barriers of vaccine hesitancy in prospective physicians can help increase vaccination uptake in the general public. Further research is necessary to identify the root cause of these barriers.

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: The Perils of Peddling Science by Social Media and the Lay Press

Introduction: Vaccines are the best tools to end the pandemic, and their public acceptance is crucial in achieving herd immunity. Despite global efforts to increase access to vaccination, the World Health Organization explicitly lists vaccination hesitancy (VH) as a significant threat. Despite robust safety reports from regulatory authorities and public health advisories, a substantial proportion of the community remains obsessed with the hazards of vaccination. This calls for identifying and eliminating possible causative elements, among which this study investigates the inappropriate dissemination of medical literature concerning COVID-19 and adverse events following immunization (AEFI), its influence on promoting VH, and proposals for overcoming this problem in the future. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases, using the keywords “adverse events following immunization (AEFI)”, “COVID-19”, “vaccines” and “hesitancy” and related medical and subjective headings (MeSH) up to 31 March 2022, and extracted studies relevant to the COVID-19 AEFI and associated VH. Finally, 47 articles were chosen to generate a narrative synthesis. Results: The databases depicted a steep rise in publications on COVID-19 AEFI and COVID-19 VH from January 2021 onwards. The articles depicted multiple events of mild AEFIs without fatal events in recipients. While documenting AEFIs is praiseworthy, publishing such reports without prior expert surveillance can exaggerate public apprehension and inappropriately fuel VH. VH is a deep-rooted phenomenon, but it is difficult to zero in on the exact reason for it. Spreading rumors/misinformation on COVID-19 vaccines might be an important provocation for VH, which includes indiscriminately reporting AEFI on a massive scale. While a number of reported AEFIs fall within the acceptable limits in the course of extensive COVID-19 vaccinations, it is important to critically evaluate and moderate the reporting and dissemination of AEFI in order to allay panic. Conclusions: Vaccination programs are necessary to end any pandemic, and VH may be attributed to multiple reasons. VH may be assuaged by initiating educational programs on the importance of vaccination, raising public awareness and monitoring the inappropriate dissemination of misleading information. Government-initiated strategies can potentially restrict random AEFI reports from lay epidemiologists and healthcare practitioners.

Mandatory Vaccination Against COVID-19: Twitter Poll Analysis on Public Health Opinion

BACKGROUND

On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization Emergency Committee declared the rapid worldwide spread of COVID-19 a global health emergency. By December 2020, the safety and efficacy of the first COVID-19 vaccines had been demonstrated. However, international vaccination coverage rates have remained below expectations (in Europe at the time of manuscript submission). Controversial mandatory vaccination is currently being discussed and has already been introduced in some countries (Austria, Greece, and Italy). We used the Twitter survey system as a viable method to quickly and comprehensively gather international public health insights on mandatory vaccination against COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to better understand the public's perception of mandatory COVID-19 vaccination in real time using Twitter polls.

METHODS

Two Twitter polls were developed (in the English language) to seek the public's opinion on the possibility of mandatory vaccination. The polls were pinned to the Digital Health and Patient Safety Platform's (based in Vienna, Austria) Twitter timeline for 1 week in mid-November 2021, 3 days after the official public announcement of mandatory COVID-19 vaccination in Austria. Twitter users were asked to participate and retweet the polls to reach the largest possible audience.

RESULTS

Our Twitter polls revealed two extremes on the topic of mandatory vaccination against COVID-19. Almost half of the 2545 respondents (n=1246, 49%) favor mandatory vaccination, at least in certain areas. This attitude contrasts with the 45.7% (n=1162) who categorically reject mandatory vaccination. Over one-quarter (n=621, 26.3%) of participating Twitter users said they would never get vaccinated, as reflected by the current Western European and North American vaccination coverage rate. Concatenating interpretation of these two polls should be done cautiously as participating populations might substantially differ.

CONCLUSIONS

Mandatory vaccination against COVID-19 (in at least certain areas) is favored by less than 50%, whereas it is opposed by almost half of the surveyed Twitter users. Since (social) media strongly influences public perceptions and views, and social media discussions and surveys are specifically susceptible to the "echo chamber effect," the results should be interpreted as a momentary snapshot. Therefore, the results of this study need to be complemented by long-term surveys to maintain their validity.

A Needs-Based Analysis of Teaching on Vaccinations and COVID-19 in German Medical Schools

The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the need for improving public confidence in vaccines. Academic gaps and redundancies on vaccinations must be identified to revise the medical curriculum for up-to-date training of medical students. This cross-sectional survey assessed the status of vaccine-related teaching in general and specific to COVID-19 in medical schools across Germany. A total of 4313 medical students completed a questionnaire comprising items on national learning goals and perceived needs for teaching on vaccinations. Mixed methods were used to analyse data quantitatively for relative frequencies (%) and correlations between teaching items and semesters (Spearman’s rho), and qualitatively (content analysis). Our findings showed that 38.92% of the students were dissatisfied with teaching on vaccine-preventable diseases, but the perceived satisfaction increased in later semesters (r = 0.46, p < 0.001). Moreover, 75.84% and 68.15% of the students were dissatisfied with teaching related to vaccine scepticism and vaccine-related communication strategies, respectively. Furthermore, 63.79% reported dissatisfaction with teaching on COVID-19 disease and 72.93% with teaching on COVID-19 vaccines. A total of 79.12% stated they educated others on COVID-19 and its vaccines and 75.14% felt responsible to do so. A majority of the medical students were dissatisfied with teaching on dealing with vaccine scepticism, communication strategies and COVID-19 vaccines. We recommend practice-oriented vaccine education, especially for teaching communication skills to medical students.

New Wave of COVID-19 Vaccine Opinions in the Month the 3rd Booster Dose Arrived

Vaccination has been proposed as one of the most effective methods to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the day the first vaccine, with an efficiency of more than 90%, was announced, the entire vaccination process and its possible consequences in large populations have generated a series of discussions on social media. Whereas the opinions triggered by the administration of the initial COVID-19 vaccine doses have been discussed in depth in the scientific literature, the approval of the so-called 3rd booster dose has only been analyzed in country-specific studies, primarily using questionnaires. In this context, the present paper conducts a stance analysis using a transformer-based deep learning model on a dataset containing 3,841,594 tweets in English collected between 12 July 2021 and 11 August 2021 (the month in which the 3rd dose arrived) and compares the opinions (in favor, neutral and against) with the ones extracted at the beginning of the vaccination process. In terms of COVID-19 vaccination hesitance, an analysis based on hashtags, n-grams and latent Dirichlet allocation is performed that highlights the main reasons behind the reluctance to vaccinate. The proposed approach can be useful in the context of the campaigns related to COVID-19 vaccination as it provides insights related to the public opinion and can be useful in creating communication messages to support the vaccination campaign.

COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance Rate and Its Factors among Healthcare Students: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

Healthcare students are clinicians-in-training likely to come into contact with COVID-19 as much as other frontline healthcare professionals. It is therefore necessary to prioritize vaccinations for this group. We conducted a global systematic assessment of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rates and related factors among healthcare students using the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases and keyword searches in March of 2022. We found 1779 articles with relevant information and 31 articles that matched our inclusion criteria. We performed a random-effects meta-analysis and quality assessment using the eight-item Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal test for cross-sectional studies. A total of 30,272 individuals from 16 countries were studied. Most of the studies were carried out in the U.S. (n = 6), China (n = 5), Poland (n = 5), India (n = 2), Italy (n = 2), and Israel (n = 2). The prevalence of the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate was 68.8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 60.8-76.3, I2 = 100%), and the prevalence of the vaccine hesitancy rate was 25.8% (95% CI: 18.5-33.8, I2 = 99%). In country-specific analyses, Romania showed the highest acceptance rate (88.0%, 95% CI: 44.5-100%), while Iraq showed the lowest acceptance rate (66.2%, 95% CI: 35.5-90.8%). In time-trend analyses, we found that acceptance rates among healthcare students decreased over time. Students concerned about potentially serious side effects of the vaccine were less willing to accept the vaccine. National and international interventions should be adopted to reduce COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy rates among these important frontline workers.

To Boost or Not to Boost: Acceptability of a COVID-19 Booster Dose among Osteopathic Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study from a Medical School in New York

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, with new variants emerging and vaccine-induced immunity waning. Protecting and retaining the healthcare force remains crucial in fighting this pandemic, as healthcare workers (HCWs) are a critical driver in increasing vaccine uptake among the public. This study explored the uptake of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) booster shots among medical students at the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYITCOM). Predictors for actual booster uptake were also examined. An electronic survey was distributed to Osteopathic Medical Students (OMS I-IV) in January 2022. The survey was distributed to 1762 students total, with 319 responses received (18%). Of those who responded, 70.2% (224/319) reported that they had already received a booster, while 29.5% (94/319) reported they had not yet received it. We identified that pharmaceutical mistrust, building long-lasting immunity via vaccines, and vaccines' adverse effects were the most significant predictors for how willing participants were to accept a booster dose. Vaccine hesitancy around the COVID-19 booster was prevalent during the surge of the highly transmissible variant Omicron. This finding necessitates some evidence-based approaches to enhance booster uptake among a population subgroup whose impact is critical.

Cross-sectional study on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and determinants in healthcare students: interdisciplinary trainings on vaccination are needed

BACKGROUND

To ensure the success of COVID-19 vaccination, public authorities need to have the support of the entire population and build vaccine confidence. Identifying and understanding the determinants of vaccine acceptance is essential for conducting vaccine strategy. The aim was to estimate vaccine hesitancy among healthcare students in France and to investigate the associated factors.

METHODS

A web-based cross-sectional study was conducted in a large French University in greater Paris area, among 4927 healthcare students from the different training courses such as medicine studies, midwifery studies, physiotherapy studies, nurse studies and others health studies. The study was conducted between January 21 and February 8, 2021 based on a questionnaire including 25 single or multiple-choice questions, made using the free software Limesurvey. The link of the questionnaire was distributed to the students by the teachers and the student associations. The SAGE group definition of vaccine hesitancy was used. All estimates were weighted using the gender and training courses category of all healthcare students registered for the 2020-2021 year. Crude and adjusted weighted odds ratio (wOR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were estimated using logistic regression.

RESULTS

A total of 1465 healthcare students answered. A proportion of 44.5% (95%CI = [41.7-47.3]) of them were considered as hesitant. Women were more hesitant (50.9, 95%CI = [48.0-53.9]) than men (21.6, 95%CI = [15.2-28.0]). Vaccine hesitancy was significantly associated with gender (wOR = 0.27, 95%CI = [0.18-0.39]) and training courses: medical students were less likely to be hesitant than students in the common and first year of several health studies (wOR = 0.48, 95%CI = [0.33-0.70]) while nursing students were more than 5 times more likely to be hesitant (wOR = 5.20, 95%CI = [3.71-7.28]). Students who did an internship during the epidemic (wOR = 0.53, 95%CI = [0.41-0.69]) and who downloaded the mobile contact-tracing mobile app "TousAntiCovid" (wOR = 0.34, 95%CI = [0.26-0.44]) were significantly less likely to be hesitant.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall vaccine hesitancy among healthcare students was high, substantial differences were found between training courses. To reduce these disparities, interdisciplinary lectures on vaccines for all healthcare students may be implemented and evaluated.

Prevalence and Drivers of COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Hesitancy Among German University Students and Employees

COVID-19 booster hesitancy (VBH) is a serious public health challenge which acts simultaneously with the waning vaccine-elicited immunity and the emerging viral variants to prolong the pandemic interval. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of COVID-19 VBH among a highly educated subset of the German population and to explore the potential demographic, anamnestic, and psychosocial determinants of this problem. A cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted in December 2021 among German university students and employees to evaluate their attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccine booster (VB) doses. The study used a self-administered questionnaire that was developed and disseminated digitally, and the questionnaire inquired about participants' demographic characteristics, COVID-19-related anamnesis, COVID-19 vaccine-related anamnesis, and psychosocial predictors of COVID-19 VBH. A total of 930 participants were recruited, of which 608 (65.4%) were students, 682 (73.3%) were females, and their mean age was 29.08 ± 10.93 years. Fifty-five participants (5.9%) had been previously infected by COVID-19 and the vast majority of infections happened before the first vaccine dose. Over 95% of the participants had received at least one vaccine dose, and the most commonly administered vaccine was BNT162b2. The overall COVID-19 VB acceptance was satisfactory (87.8%) and induced by various altruistic promoters, e.g., family health protection, community health protection, and patients' health protection. The students (86.3%), the previously infected participants (76.4%), the participants who did not receive primer doses of COVID-19 vaccines (2.5 %), and those who were hospitalized (40%) and sought medical care/treatment after receiving primer doses (86.8%) were less likely to accept COVID-19 VB compared to the employees (90.7%), the participants who were not previously infected (88.6%) and those who received primer dose (91.7%), and the participants who were not hospitalized (92%) nor sought medical care/treatment after primer doses (92.9%), respectively. The perceived effectiveness of COVID-19 VB against severe illness (adjusted odds ratio "AOR": 47.65-95% confidence interval "CI": 23.65-96.49), symptomatic infection (AOR: 9.87-95% CI: 5.20-18.71), community transmission (AOR: 5.34-95% CI: 3.00-9.49) and emerging variants (AOR: 19.12-95% CI: 10.57-34.55) were key predictors for COVID-19 VB acceptance; therefore, it needs to be highlighted in vaccine messaging. In addition, the perceived safety of COVID-19 VB and ethical dilemmas of vaccine justice need to be addressed publicly.

Prevalence of COVID-19 Vaccination among Medical Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the prevalence of COVID-19 vaccination among medical students worldwide. Three electronic databases, i.e., PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (WoS), were used to collect the related studies according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The study population included undergraduate medical students who had already been vaccinated reported in original articles published between January 2020 and December 2021. The heterogeneity of results among studies was quantified using the inconsistency index I². Publication bias was assessed by using Egger’s test. Six cross-sectional studies with 4118 respondents were included in this study. The prevalence of COVID-19 vaccination was 61.9% (95% CI, 39.7–80.1%). There were no statistical differences between gender and vaccination acceptance, 1.038 (95% CI 0.874–1.223), and year of study and vaccination acceptance, 2.414 (95% CI, 0.754–7.729). The attitudes towards compulsory vaccination among healthcare workers can be determined by a prevalence of 71.4% (95% CI, 67.0–75.4%). The prevalence of COVID-19 vaccination among medical students was at a moderate level. Placing a greater emphasis on prevention seems essential in the medical curriculum.

A multi-country survey on the impact of COVID-19 on dental practice and dentists' feelings in Latin America

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly influenced the routine of healthcare workers. This study investigated the impact of the pandemic on dental practice and dentists' feelings in Latin America.

METHODS

A survey was conducted with dentists from 11 Spanish-speaking Latin American countries in September-December 2020. Professionals were invited by email and via an open campaign promoted on social media. The questions investigated dental care routines, practice changes, and feelings about the pandemic. Descriptive statistics were used to identify frequencies and distributions of variables. Proportions were compared using chi-square tests.

RESULTS

A total of 2127 responses were collected from a sample with diverse demographic, sex, work, and education characteristics. The impact of COVID-19 was considered high/very high by 60% of respondents. The volume of patients assisted weekly was lower compared with the pre-pandemic period (mean reduction = 14 ± 15 patients). A high rate of fear to contracting the COVID-19 at work was observed (85%); 4.9% of participants had a positive COVID-19 test. The main professional challenges faced by respondents were reduction in the number of patients or financial gain (35%), fear of contracting COVID-19 (34%), and burden with or difficulty in purchasing new personal protective equipment (22%). The fear to contracting COVID-19 was influenced by the number of weekly appointments. A positive test by the dentists was associated with their reports of having assisted COVID-19 patients. The most cited feelings about the pandemic were uncertainty, fear, worry, anxiety, and stress. Negative feelings were more prevalent for professionals who did not receive training for COVID-19 preventive measures and those reporting higher levels of fear to contract the disease.

CONCLUSION

This multi-country survey indicated a high impact of the pandemic on dental care routines in Latin America. A massive prevalence of bad feelings was associated with the pandemic.

Potential factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy: A systematic review

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Although vaccines are considered the most effective and fundamental therapeutic tools for consistently preventing the COVID-19 disease, worldwide vaccine hesitancy has become a widespread public health issue for successful immunization. The aim of this review was to identify an up-to-date and concise assessment of potential factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and refusal intention, and to outline the key message in order to organize these factors according to country count.

METHODS

A systematic search of the peer-reviewed literature articles indexed in reputable databases, mainly Pub Med (MEDLINE), Elsevier, Science Direct, and Scopus, was performed between21stJune 2021 and10th July 2021. After obtaining the results via careful screening using a PRISMA flow diagram, 47 peer-reviewed articles met the inclusion criteria and formed the basic structure of the review.

RESULTS

In total, 11 potential factors were identified, of which the greatest number of articles (n = 28) reported "safety" (34.46%; 95% CI 25.05─43.87) as the overarching consideration, while "side effects" (38.73%; 95% CI 28.14─49.32) was reported by 22 articles, which was the next common factor. Other potential factors such as "effectiveness" were identified in 19 articles (29.98%; 95% CI 17.09─41.67), followed by "trust" (n = 15 studies; 27.91%; 95% CI 17.1─38.73),"information sufficiency"(n = 12; 34.46%; 95% CI 35.87─63.07),"efficacy"(n = 8; 28.73%; 95% CI 9.72─47.74), "conspiracy beliefs" (n = 8; 14.30%; 95% CI 7.97─20.63),"social influence" (n = 6; 42.11%; 95% CI 14.01─70.21), "political roles" (n = 4; 16.75%; 95% CI 5.34─28.16), "vaccine mandated" (n = 4; 51.20%; 95% CI 20.25─82.15), and "fear and anxiety" (n = 3; 8.73%; 95% CI 0.59─18.05). The findings for country-specific influential vaccination factors revealed that, "safety" was recognized mostly (n = 14) in Asian continents (32.45%; 95% CI 19.60─45.31), followed by the United States (n = 6; 33.33%; 95% CI12.68─53.98). "Side effects" was identified from studies in Asia and Europe (n = 6; 35.78%; 95% CI 16.79─54.77 and 16.93%; 95% CI 4.70─28.08, respectively), followed by Africa (n = 4; 74.60%, 95% CI 58.08─91.11); however, public response to "effectiveness" was found in the greatest (n = 7) number of studies in Asian countries (44.84%; 95% CI 25─64.68), followed by the United States (n = 6; 16.68%, 95% CI 8.47─24.89). In Europe, "trust" (n = 5) appeared as a critical predictor (24.94%; 95% CI 2.32─47.56). "Information sufficiency" was identified mostly (n = 4) in articles from the United States (51.53%; 95% CI = 14.12─88.74), followed by Asia (n = 3; 40%; 95% CI 27.01─52.99). More concerns was observed relating to "efficacy" and "conspiracy beliefs" in Asian countries (n = 3; 27.03%; 95% CI 10.35─43.71 and 18.55%; 95% CI 8.67─28.43, respectively). The impact of "social influence" on making a rapid vaccination decision was high in Europe (n = 3; 23.85%, 95% CI -18.48─66.18), followed by the United States (n = 2; 74.85%). Finally, "political roles" and "vaccine-mandated" were important concerns in the United States.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevailing factors responsible for COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy varied globally; however, the global COVID-19 vaccine acceptance relies on several common factors related to psychological and, societal aspect, and the vaccine itself. People would connect with informative and effective messaging that clarifies the safety, side effects, and effectiveness of prospective COVID-19 vaccines, which would foster vaccine confidence and encourage people to be vaccinated willingly.

COVID-19 VACCINATION AND DENTISTRY: ARE WE FACING NEW CHALLENGES OR WORKING WITHIN OUR POSSIBILITIES? ANALYTICAL REVIEW

Objective. To systematize available data regarding COVID-19 vaccination aspects among dental specialists and highlight relevant occupationally-related features of vaccination challenges. Materials and Methods. Search of pertinent literature sources associated with above-formulated objective was provided via PubMed Central database (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/) and Google Scholar search engine (https://scholar.google.com/). Criteria of publication date included 2020-2021 years period. Publications in English or at least with English abstract/summary were collected within primary sample for further preliminary content-analysis. All articles collected for in-depth content-analysis were evaluated due to the text-mining, text-identification and text-extraction principles with further clusterization and systematization of outcomes at the Microsoft Excel 2019 software (Microsoft Office, 2019). Results. After full reading of articles’ texts 24 of them were interpreted as those containing new and/or unique information, interpretations or facts, out of which 9 were cross-sectional online surveys, 4 were editorials, 6 were literature/clinical reviews, 1 was brief report, 1 was opinion article, 1 was ethical moment, 1 was advice article, and 1 was web-source. New challenges related with COVID-19 vaccination within dental filed are represented by personal hesitancy of dental professionals and students, which in turn associated with provided information support, previous COVID-19 experience, fear of getting infected or transmit disease to the patients or family members, fear of potential development for post-vaccination side-effects, changes of occupational status, and interaction within dental team. Conclusions. Further improvement of dental care field possible only after vaccination of dental professionals. Vaccination of dentists widening window of their possibilities regarding potential role of dental specialist as members of COVID-19 vaccine’s delivery team, improvement of quality of life among dental patients (after its decreasing changes during pandemic), and providing dentists with important role in so-called “behaviorally informed strategies” and public motivational programs aimed at amplification of positive willingness for COVID-19 vaccination among general public.