Factors affecting the willingness of mental health staff to get vaccinated against COVID‐19

• Published in: Journal of evaluation in clinical practice 2022-12, Vol.28 (6), p.948-957
• Main Authors: Dahan, Sagit, Bloemhof‐Bris, Esther, Weizman, Shira, Pesah, Moran, Gorno, Nadav, Abu Shah, Mustafa, Levi, Galit, Shelef, Assaf
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - prevention & control; COVID-19 Vaccines; COVID‐19; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Immunization; Influenza Vaccines; Influenza, Human - prevention & control; Mental Health; Mental health care; mental health staff; Original Paper; Original Papers; Vaccination; vaccine acceptance
• ISSN: 1356-1294; 1365-2753
• DOI: 10.1111/jep.13722

Rationale and Objective At the beginning of vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), information about the effects of the vaccine was not known and hesitancy was observed among the population. The mental health staff members in our center in Israel had to decide whether to get vaccinated or not. The objective of this study was to evaluate the differences in demographic characteristics of vaccinated and nonvaccinated mental health care workers (HCWs), and to identify their reasons for or against vaccination. Method Data on characteristics of 357 staff members at a mental health center (MHCS) in Israel and their attitudes regarding COVID‐19 vaccination, those who were nonvaccinated, were collected via anonymous questionnaires, from 1 January to 10 January 2021. The groups were then compared using χ2, Fisher's exact tests, t test or Mann–Whitney nonparametric test as appropriate. A logistic regression was then performed using the significant variables and odd ratios presented. Results Eighty‐one per cent of the sample received at least the first dose of the vaccine. Results indicated differences in seniority (p