COVID-19 Awareness, Perception, and Vaccine Hesitancy Among Healtcare Trainees at a Tertiary Health Facility – Lessons for the Future

Abstract

Healthcare workers and trainees are at increased risk of contracting Coronavirus infection and constitute priority groups for vaccination. Hesitancy is a major barrier to vaccine uptake, and this has an implication for vaccination programs.

AIM: To assess the perception of healthcare trainees on COVID-19 disease, their attitude to the new vaccine, and their willingness to get vaccinated.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study of trainees in medicine & surgery, dentistry, physiotherapy, medical laboratory science, and nursing departments was conducted at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. The information included socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of vaccines, perception, and reluctance to get vaccinated. Descriptive statistics and a Chi-square test were performed; p≤0.05.

Results: Mean age was 22.98±2.48years. The majority of 163 respondents were medical students (49.10%). Awareness of disease was high; the source of information was social media; 92% of trainees had knowledge of the vaccine and the majority were aware of the intramuscular route of administration. About 57.7% were willing to receive the vaccine. The knowledge of safety increased the willingness to take the vaccine, the perceived risk of contracting infection, and long-term adverse effects.

Conclusion: Vaccine hesitancy exists among healthcare trainees despite high awareness of the COVID-19 pandemic, knowledge of available vaccines, and their benefits.