COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers

Objective: To characterize healthcare workers' (HCWs) intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine by thebeginning of the vaccine campaign in France. Methods: Data were collected on a self-administered questionnaire through the website of a tertiary carecenter (February 9-18, 2021). Results: Among 1,965 respondents, 1,436 (73.1%), 453 (23.1%), and 76 (3.9%) declared themselves infavor, hesitant, or against the COVID-19 vaccine: < 60% of auxiliary nurses and technicians intended to bevaccinated, as compared to 60-79% of nurses and support staff, and > 80% of medical staff. On multivariateanalysis, age, occupation, flu vaccine history, and controversy over the AstraZeneca vaccine tolerabilitywere independently associated with COVID-19 vaccine intention. Conclusions: Patterns of vaccine hesitancy related to the COVID-19 and influenza vaccines are similaramong HCWs. Media communication on vaccine side effects have a dramatic effect on vaccine hesitancy. Efforts are requested to inform HCWs about the risk/benefit balance of COVID-19 vaccines.