Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccination in Cancer Patients in Hong Kong: Approaches to Improve the Vaccination Rate

Emerging efficacy and safety data have led to the authorization of COVID-19 vaccines worldwide, but most trials excluded patients with active malignancies. This study evaluates the intended acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination in cancer patients in Hong Kong. Methods: 660 adult cancer patients receive...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Vaccines (Basel) 2021-07, Vol.9 (7), p.792
Main Authors: Chan, Wing-Lok, Ho, Yuen-Hung Tricia, Wong, Carlos King-Ho, Choi, Horace Cheuk-Wai, Lam, Ka-On, Yuen, Kwok-Keung, Kwong, Dora, Hung, Ivan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
acceptance
Acceptance tests
Anxiety
Breast cancer
Cancer
Cancer therapies
Cancer vaccines
Clinical trials
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
COVID-19 vaccines
FDA approval
Health education
Health literacy
Hospitals
Infections
Influenza
Mental depression
Mortality
Patients
Polls & surveys
Population
Public schools
Questionnaires
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Side effects
Social networks
vaccination
Vaccines
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Summary:Emerging efficacy and safety data have led to the authorization of COVID-19 vaccines worldwide, but most trials excluded patients with active malignancies. This study evaluates the intended acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination in cancer patients in Hong Kong. Methods: 660 adult cancer patients received a survey, in paper or electronic format, between 31 January 2021 and 15 February 2021. The survey included patient’s clinical characteristics, perceptions of COVID-19 and vaccination, vaccine knowledge, cancer health literacy, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS). The primary outcome was the intended acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine in cancer patients. Multivariable analysis was performed to identify factors associated with intended acceptance. Results: The intended acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination was 17.9%. A total of 487 (73.8%) believed that vaccination could prevent them from infection. Over 70% worried about vaccine negative effects on cancer and its side effects. Factors associated with intended acceptance included higher level of “belief in vaccine on preventing them from getting COVID-19”, less worry about long-term side effects of vaccine, lower level of cancer health literacy, and normal HADS (Depression scale). Conclusions: To improve vaccine acceptance rate, public education campaigns specific to cancer patients to gain their trust in efficacy and relieve their worries are needed.
ISSN:2076-393X
2076-393X
DOI:10.3390/vaccines9070792