Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccine Among Healthcare Workers: Experiences from a Reference Hospital in Türkiye

Introduction: The acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine by healthcare professionals is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, they face an elevated risk of infection due to their close contact with COVID-19 patients. Secondly, they play a pivotal role in offering guidance to the public regarding vaccination. This study aimed to examine the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine by healthcare professionals and to identify situations that cause hesitation. Materials and Methods: In this study, healthcare workers at Ankara City Hospital were surveyed between April 1 st and July 1 st , 2021, using a printed questionnaire to determine whether they had received the COVID-19 vaccine. Additionally, the survey aimed to understand their reasons for either receiving or not receiving the vaccine. In the study, the survey results of 1096 healthcare professionals were evaluated. Results: The mean age of the participants was 33.2 +/- 8.9, 71.7% were women, 49.4% were married, and 42.9% were nurses or midwives. Thirty point six percent of participants reported being diagnosed with COVID-19, while 46.1% indicated that individuals they lived with had been diagnosed with the virus. The percentage of COVID-19 vaccination among all healthcare workers was 81%. By profession, the rate of COVID-19 diagnosis was 92% for doctors, 76% for nurses/midwives, 81% for allied health personnel, and 77% for technical/administrative personnel. The most common reasons for receiving the COVID-19 vaccine include concerns about transmitting the virus to loved ones, awareness of the vaccine's protective benefits, confidence in its safety, and fear of contracting the illness. The most common reasons cited for not receiving the COVID-19 vaccine included concerns about its effectiveness, fear of potential side effects, and having previously contracted COVID-19. Conclusion: High vaccine acceptance percentages were associated with several factors, including being older than 30 years old, having children, not being pregnant, having pursued medical residency education or holding a doctorate/master's degree, working as a doctor, having three or more years of work experience, and having received at least one flu vaccine. Providing ample and compelling information about the COVID-19 vaccine to both society and healthcare workers is essential. Factors that enhance vaccine acceptance, as well as reasons contributing to vaccine hesitancy or refusal, should be thoroughly analyzed and incorporated into vaccination studies. Moreover, solutions should be offered to address these factors in the field.