Open AccessCOVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and associated factors according to sex: A population-based survey in Salvador, Brazil
Author(s) -
Nívison Nery,
Juan P. Aguilar Ticona,
Cristiane Wanderley Cardoso,
Ana Paula Pitanga Barbuda Prates,
Helena Cristina Alves Vieira,
Andrea Salvador de Almeida,
Mirela Maisa da Silva Souza,
Olivete Borba dos Reis,
Maysa Pellizzaro,
Moyra Machado Portilho,
Renan Rosa da Anunciação,
Renato Victoriano,
Rôsangela O. Anjos,
Hernán Darío Argibay,
Douglas Oliveira Carmo Lima,
Isadora Lima Mesquita,
Wesley Mota Conceição,
Perla M. Santana,
Ethiene Fernandes de Oliveira,
P Santana,
Cláudia Brodskyn,
Deborah Bittencourt Mothé Fraga,
Manuela da Silva Solcà,
Mitermayer Galvão dos Reis,
Federico Costa,
Guilherme S. Ribeiro
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0262649
Subject(s) - vaccination , medicine , influenza vaccine , covid-19 , population , demography , pandemic , cross sectional study , demographics , family medicine , environmental health , disease , immunology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , pathology , sociology
Vaccination is a major strategy to prevent the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, information about factors associated with men and women intention to be vaccinated are scarce. To determine COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and identify factors associated vaccine hesitancy according to sex, we performed a cross-sectional population-based random survey in Salvador, Brazil between Nov/2020-Jan/2021. Participants were interviewed to obtain data on intention to receive and pay for a COVID-19 vaccine, as well as on demographics, comorbidities, influenza vaccination history, previous diagnosis of COVID-19, and exposures and perception of COVID-19 risk. Among 2,521 participants, 2,053 (81.4%) reported willingness to use a COVID-19 vaccine and 468 (18.6%) hesitated to take it. Among those intending to get vaccinated, 1,400 (68.2%) would pay for the vaccine if necessary. Sex-stratified multivariable analysis found that men who were working and who had comorbidities were less likely to hesitate about using the vaccine. Among women, higher educational level and high perception of COVID-19 risk were associated with less vaccine hesitancy. In both groups, reporting influenza vaccination in 2020 reduced the chance of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. COVID-19 vaccine campaigns targeting to reduce vaccine hesitancy are urgently needed. These campaigns should consider gender differences in order to be successful.