Psychological Factors and Vaccine Conspiracy Beliefs Influence Influenza Vaccine Acceptance among Jordanian Healthcare Workers

Jordanian healthcare workers' attitudes towards influenza vaccination were evaluated in a recent study, which found that psychological determinants such as confidence, complacency, and collective responsibility play a significant role in vaccine acceptance. The study, conducted among 1218 healthcare workers, including nurses, physicians, and pharmacists, revealed that willingness to receive the vaccine was higher among those who were provided with the vaccine for free. The study also found that healthcare workers who held conspiracy beliefs about vaccines were less likely to accept the influenza vaccine.

Key Takeaways:

• The study found that about two-thirds of the healthcare workers expressed willingness to receive influenza vaccination if provided free of charge, while less than one-third were willing to pay for the vaccine.
• The self-reported uptake of the influenza vaccine in the last influenza season was 62.8%.
• Factors associated with higher acceptance of influenza vaccination included male sex, physicians and dentists among HCW categories, higher confidence, and collective responsibility.
• Higher influenza vaccine uptake was correlated with nurses and physicians among HCW categories, older age, higher monthly income, higher confidence, and collective responsibility.
• Psychological determinants appeared to be the most significant factors for vaccine acceptance and uptake, whereas the embrace of general vaccine conspiracy beliefs was associated with lower rates of influenza vaccine uptake.

Statistics:

• 62.8% of healthcare workers reported having received the influenza vaccine in the last influenza season.
• 66.3% of healthcare workers expressed willingness to receive influenza vaccination if provided free of charge.
• 31.9% of healthcare workers were willing to pay for the vaccine.
• 33.8% of healthcare workers were nurses, while 30.1% were physicians.
• 14.9% of healthcare workers were medical technicians.
• 13.2% of healthcare workers were pharmacists, and 7.1% were dentists.
• 1218 healthcare workers participated in the study.

Sources:

• The Role of Psychological Factors and Vaccine Conspiracy Beliefs in Influenza Vaccine Hesitancy and Uptake among Jordanian Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Vaccines, 2022,10(1355):1355.
• Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA. September 18, 2022; p 208.