COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy amongst COVID-19-positive patients in a Maltese suburban population

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic brought about unprecedented demands in primary care service provision and delivery. Vaccination helped to alleviate disease burden, control outbreaks, improve patient outcomes and reduce avoidable deaths. However, there is limited data on COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy on selectively suburban populations in island communities. It is imperative to identify the rationale behind vaccine hesitancy amongst patient subgroups.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to assess COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy amongst COVID-19-positive patients in a Maltese suburban population. The objectives of the analysis include assessing the patients’ attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination, providing information to facilitate the planning of vaccination campaigns and to inform the vaccine strategy.

METHODS: A quantitative, retrospective, descriptive, crosssectional study was performed. A telephone consultation was conducted on a purposive sample of 700 patients who had a positive PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 between July and September 2021. The novel, validated 5C (Constraints/ Confidence/Collective responsibility/ Complacency/Calculation) scale was used amongst the unvaccinated/partially vaccinated patient population to analyse psychological antecedents of vaccination, facilitate diagnosis, address vaccine hesitancy and potentially, increase vaccine uptake. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences v27.

RESULTS: Almost one-fifth of participants were unvaccinated or partially vaccinated. The most common psychological underpinnings of vaccine hesitancy were confidence and constraints. Collective responsibility was the least frequent psychological antecedent of vaccination.

CONCLUSION: This study provides information for healthcare professionals, researchers, educators and policymakers to guide resource allocation, develop area-targeted public health programmes and mitigate the effects of vaccine hesitancy in suburban populations.