Evaluation of Vaccine Hesitancy, Anti-Vaccination, and Anxiety Levels for Medical Secretaries During COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the vaccine hesitancy, anti-vaccination, and anxiety levels of medical secretaries during the pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 161 medical secretaries working at the time of the Study. Sociodemographic characteristics form, Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS), Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (VHS) adapted to the pandemic, and Anti-vaccination Scale (AVS) were used in the questionnaire form used to collect the data of the study. Results: Median (IQR) CAS, VHS, and AVS scores of the participants were 2 (IQR=3), 32 (IQR=10), and 58 (IQR=16), respectively. 35.4 % of the participants were exposed to the COVID-19, and 87% were vaccinated against COVID-19. Participants' hesitations about the childhood and COVID-19 vaccines were 15.5 % and 49.1%, respectively. A significant relationship was found between the presence of Coronavirus anxiety and educational status (p=0.035), hesitancy against childhood vaccine (p=0.016), and working in COVID-19 Units (p=0.044). A statistically significant relationship was found between VHS scores and hesitancy against childhood vaccine (p=0.001), hesitancy against COVID-19 vaccine (p<0.001), vaccination against COVID-19 (p=0.014), belief that the COVID-19 vaccine is protective (p<0.001), and make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory (p<0.001). A significant relationship was found between AVS scores and vaccination against COVID-19 (p=0.002), hesitancy against COVID-19 vaccine (p<0.001), and belief that the COVID-19 vaccine is protective (p<0.001), making COVID-19 vaccination mandatory (p<0.001). Conclusion: The concern about their parents’ exposure to COVID-19 is high among secretaries. COVID 19 vaccine hesitancy is high among secretaries. During the pandemic, higher rates of anxiety were detected in secretaries and those working in COVID-19 units and lower in the high school education.