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BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 vaccine was initially offered to frontline health care workers (HCWs), due to the high risk of contracting COVID-19 through occupational exposure to patients. Low HCW vaccine uptake can impact overall community-level vaccine uptake. This study used the Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) Theory to understand factors related to COVID-19 vaccine uptake in HCWs. METHODS: We surveyed Pennsylvanian HCWs (excluding Philadelphia) from August 2022 to February 2023. Survey questions inquired about demographics, COVID-19 vaccination status, reasons for receiving/declining the COVID-19 vaccine, and sources of information about the vaccine. RESULTS: Participants (n = 3,490) were 85% female, 89% White, and 93% (n = 3,255) reported receiving at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. HCWs were categorized into adopter categories of the DOI Theory: innovators (56%), early adopters (9%), early majority (11%), late majority (7%), and laggards (17%). The major reason that prompted participants to get the vaccine was to protect them against COVID-19 infection (78%), while the major reason for declining the vaccine was due to concern about possible side effects from the vaccine (78%). CONCLUSIONS: We applied the DOI Theory to characterize adopters and identify factors related to COVID-19 vaccine uptake in HCWs. As updated COVID-19 vaccines are approved for the United States market, our findings may be used to improve vaccine education and communication among HCWs to support vaccine uptake.

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Despite the known importance of vaccines as one of the greatest achievements in medical science, vaccine hesitancy has been increasing in the last decade and has become a major threat to global health. The growth of vaccine hesitancy worldwide became more evident with the onset of COVID-19 and raised the fear that this hesitancy would also impact companion animal vaccination. This study aimed to characterize vaccine-hesitant groups regarding companion animals and human vaccinations, as well as to explore the possible association between vaccine hesitancy in pets and their owners. An anonymous online survey containing 27 closed questions was conducted, including questions about dog health, such as vaccination, neutering, and homeopathy use, as well as questions about the COVID-19 vaccination status of the owner and motivations for vaccinating or not vaccinating their pets. Most participants (81.5 %) reported receiving three or more doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Not vaccinating against COVID-19 or having an incomplete vaccination protocol was associated with an increase in the age range of participants (odds ratio [OR] = 1.43), not having higher education (OR = 7.70), and being in extreme income ranges (less than two minimum wages [OR = 7.57] and more than 10 [OR = 5.20]). The use of homeopathy in humans (OR = 3.24) and dogs (OR = 3.74) was associated with non-vaccination against COVID-19. Owners who were not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 were almost six times more likely to not vaccinate their dogs (OR = 5.94). Non-vaccination of dogs was also associated with non-neutering (OR = 3.56), keeping the dog in contact with other dogs (OR = 2.09), and an increase in the number of dogs in the house increased the chance of not vaccinating the animals (OR = 1.30). The present study revealed a strong association between non-vaccination against COVID-19 and non-vaccination in companion dogs, raising the hypothesis that vaccination hesitancy is a growing challenge in veterinary medicine. In addition, the characteristics of Brazilians who are reluctant to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or immunize their companion animals are described here for the first time.

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Abstract Objective: To evaluate the behavior of VCR and VCH, per municipality and per vaccines offered at the NVC, to identify priority areas for intervention. Methods: Descriptive study of a time series, using secondary data and accompanied by a narrative review of the literature evaluating VCR and VCH. Vaccines offered to children under one year and to those aged one year in the pre-pandemic period of COVID-19 (2015 to 2019) were selected and compared to those offered during the pandemic period (2020 and 2021 ). Results and discussions: The decrease in VCR and VCH is a process that precedes the COVID-19 pandemic but was intensified during this period. In 2021, the VCR was around 70% for most vaccines. This phenomenon encompasses the entire country; however, it is more intense in the states/municipalities located in the north and northeast regions, suggesting greater difficulty in accessing health services. Conclusion: Low and heterogeneous VCR requires the adoption of practices that were previously implemented, establishing partnerships with governmental and non-governmental institutions, with adequate communication, active search for non-compliance and non-adherence to the regular vaccination program, adopting intra- and extramural vaccination strategies, to reverse the current situation and reduce the risk of recurrence of diseases that have been already controlled and eliminated.

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OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the behavior of VCR and VCH, per municipality and per vaccines offered at the NVC, to identify priority areas for intervention. METHODS: Descriptive study of a time series, using secondary data and accompanied by a narrative review of the literature evaluating VCR and VCH. Vaccines offered to children under one year and to those aged one year in the pre-pandemic period of COVID-19 (2015 to 2019) were selected and compared to those offered during the pandemic period (2020 and 2021). RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS: The decrease in VCR and VCH is a process that precedes the COVID-19 pandemic but was intensified during this period. In 2021, the VCR was around 70% for most vaccines. This phenomenon encompasses the entire country; however, it is more intense in the states/municipalities located in the north and northeast regions, suggesting greater difficulty in accessing health services. CONCLUSIONS: Low and heterogeneous VCR requires the adoption of practices that were previously implemented, establishing partnerships with governmental and non-governmental institutions, with adequate communication, active search for non-compliance and non-adherence to the regular vaccination program, adopting intra- and extramural vaccination strategies, to reverse the current situation and reduce the risk of recurrence of diseases that have been already controlled and eliminated.

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A emergência na produção de vacinas justifica-se devido ao número de óbitos provocados pela síndrome respiratória e a necessidade para que seja realizado o controle desses casos e suas formas graves. Em concomitância com o avanço da imunização da população, observou-se que o movimento social de Hesitação Vacinal (HV), caracterizado pela recusa ou atraso em aceitar a vacinação, tem tomado proporção mundial nos últimos anos, apoiando-se em questionamentos referentes principalmente sobre a eficácia e segurança dos imunizantes. Diante disso, ressalta-se a importância da discussão sobre individualidade versus coletividade e compreender as justificativas que estão associadas ao processo de HV da COVID-19. Este estudo tem por objetivo analisar o processo de HV contra a COVID-19 no Brasil, na perspectiva da visão de quem hesita. Trata-se de um estudo exploratório descritivo, de característica qualitativa, e abordagem por amostra não probabilística do tipo snowball (Bola de neve). A metodologia utiliza cadeias de referências para construir a sua população amostral, os sujeitos da pesquisa são indivíduos que tenham porventura hesitado em tomar qualquer um dos imunobiológicos contra a COVID-19 que atualmente são oferecidos pelo Programa Nacional de Imunização, serem maior de 18 anos, residirem no território geográfico do Rio Grande do Norte, e terem aceitado participar da pesquisa assinando o Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido ­ TCLE. Para a análise de conteúdo, utilizou-se a técnica do Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo, descrita por LEFEVRE & LEFEVRE, elaborada a partir da Teoria das Representações Sociais. Os resultados preliminares foram organizados de forma sistematizada, onde caracterizou-se socioeconomicamente os sujeitos participantes da pesquisa, foram elencadas categorias de acordo com o sentido das ideias centrais para compreender o indivíduo enquanto ser social a respeito do processo de hesitação vacinal da COVID-19, sendo elas: Vivências e experiências sobre a pandemia e a doença COVID-19; As percepções sobre da vacina a COVID-19 e vacinação; Justificativas associadas a hesitação vacinal contra a COVID-19 e outros fatores relacionados. Evidenciando achados a respeito dessas perspectivas, os principais apontamentos encontrados associados ao processo de hesitação vacinal se relacionam a motivos variados: imposição da imunização, desconfiança dos efeitos do imunobiológico, desinformação, medo das reações, teorias da conspiração, influência política e a infodemia. Portanto, sabendo que a escolha em se vacinar vai além de um critério individual, torna-se necessário que os formadores de políticas de saúde dialoguem sobre estratégias que reforcem a segurança, necessidade, eficácia e importância da vacina para todos (AU).

The emergence of vaccine production is justified by the number of deaths caused by the respiratory syndrome, and the need to control these cases and their severe forms. Concomitantly with the advancement of immunization of the population, it was observed that the social movement of vaccine hesitation characterized by refusal or delay in accepting vaccination has taken on worldwide proportions in recent years, based on questions referring mainly to the efficacy and safety of immunizers. In view of this, it is important to discuss individuality versus collectivity, and to understand the justifications that are associated with the COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy process. This study aims to analyze the vaccine hesitation process against COVID-19 in Brazil, from the perspective of those who hesitate. This is a descriptive exploratory study, with a qualitative characteristic, and a snowball-type non-probabilistic sample approach. The methodology uses chains of references to build its sample population research subjects will be individuals who may have hesitated to take any of the immunobiologicals against COVID-19 that are currently offered by the National Immunization Program, be over 18 years old, reside in the geographic territory of Rio Grande do Norte, and have accepted participate in the research by signing the Term of Free and Informed Consent ­ TCLE, the content analysis used the Collective Subject Discourse technique, described by LEFEVRE & LEFEVRE, based on the Theory of Social Representations. The preliminary results were organized in a systematic way, where the subjects participating in the research were socioeconomically characterized, we listed categories according to the meaning of the central ideas to understand the individual as a social being regarding the process of vaccine hesitation of COVID-19, being them: Experiences and experiences about the pandemic and the COVID-19 disease; Perceptions about the COVID-19 vaccine and vaccination; Justifications associated with vaccine hesitancy against COVID-19 and other related factors. Evidencing findings regarding these perspectives, the main notes found associated with the vaccine hesitation process are related to various reasons, namely: immunization imposition, distrust of the effects of immunobiologicals, misinformation, fear of reactions, conspiracy theories, political influence and the infodemic. Therefore, knowing that the choice to be vaccinated goes beyond an individual criterion, it becomes necessary for health policy makers to dialogue about strategies that reinforce the safety, need, efficacy and importance of the vaccine for everyone (AU).

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Introdução: Hesitação vacinal é o atraso em aceitar ou a recusa das vacinas recomendadas. A Organização Mundial da Saúde recomenda uma cobertura vacinal por volta de 95% para garantir os benefícios da vacinação. Apesar disso, a hesitação em vacinar é crescente, o que deixa parte da população suscetível a doenças imunopreveníveis e favorece o ressurgimento de enfermidades já erradicadas. O objetivo do estudo foi identificar a hesitação vacinal e fatores associados a esta em um ambulatório-escola no sul de Santa Catarina. Métodos: Estudo observacional transversal realizado em ambulatório-escola no período de outubro a dezembro de 2019. Resultados: O estudo foi composto por 221 responsáveis por crianças e adolescentes até 16 anos. Apesar de todos os responsáveis exporem que vacinam os seus filhos, 84,2% estavam com a carteira de vacinação atualizada. A prevalência de hesitação vacinal foi de 20,09%, e os principais motivos destacados foram a preocupação com os efeitos adversos e a falta de segurança em realizá-las. Em relação à intensidade da hesitação, 52,77% deixaram de aplicar somente uma vacina recomendada, e 41,66% vacinaram, mesmo hesitando. Entre aqueles que já hesitaram, 65,62% não imunizaram seus filhos contra o vírus Influenza. Conclusão: Apesar de a maioria vacinar seus filhos, a taxa de hesitação encontrada não pode ser ignorada, devendo ser revertida. Para isso, se faz necessário o desenvolvimento de programas e campanhas informativas para o esclarecimento da população local frente à importância e aos benefícios da vacinação.

Introduction: Vaccine hesitancy is the delay in acceptance or refusal of recommended vaccines. The World Health Organization recommends around 95% vaccination coverage to ensure the benefits of vaccination. Despite this, hesitancy to vaccinate is increasing, leaving part of the population susceptible to immunopreventable diseases and favoring the resurgence of already eradicated diseases. This study aimed to identify vaccine hesitancy and associated factors in a school outpatient clinic in southern Santa Catarina. Methods: The study carried out a cross-sectional observational study in a school outpatient clinic from October to December 2019. Results: The 221 guardians of children and adolescents up to 16 years composed the research. Although all guardians exposed that they vaccinate their children, 84.2% were with the vaccination cards updated. The prevalence of vaccine hesitancy was 20.09%, and the main reasons highlighted were concern about adverse effects and lack of safety when vaccinating. Concerning the intensity of hesitancy, 52.77% failed to apply only one recommended vaccine, and 41.66% were vaccinated even though they hesitated. Among those who hesitated, 65.62% did not immunize their children against the influenza virus. Conclusions: Although the majority vaccinate their children, the hesitancy rate found cannot be ignored and should be reversed. For this, it is necessary to develop informative programs and campaigns to educate the local population about the importance and benefits of vaccination.

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BACKGROUND: Having a valid tool to assess attitudes toward vaccination and identify the concerns that drive vaccine refusal can facilitate population studies and help guide public health interventions. The objective of this study has been to adapt the Vaccination Attitudes Examination (VAX) scale in Colombian university students and to study its psychometric properties in a non-probabilistic sample of 1074 Colombian university students. METHODS: A confirmatory factor analysis was used to study the factorial structure. A structural equation model was tested to study concurrent validity and to check whether the factors predicted having received the coronavirus vaccine. Gender-based measurement invariance was also studied for the best model. RESULTS: The results support the structure of four related factors. The composite reliability index was good for all the factors, but the average variance extracted was not as good for the second factor. There was strong measurement invariance by gender, and two factors are good predictors of being vaccinated or not. CONCLUSIONS: The VAX has shown construct and concurrent validity and is a reliable tool for evaluating attitudes towards vaccines in university students in Colombia. It may help guide the implementation of actions for the National Vaccination Plan and institutional policies.

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BACKGROUND: Despite a large burden of influenza in middle income countries, pediatric vaccination coverage remains low. The aims of this study were to (1) describe mothers' knowledge and attitudes about influenza illnesses and vaccination, and (2) identify characteristics associated with mothers' intent to vaccinate their child. METHODS: From 2015 to 2017, infants 0-11 months old in Nicaragua, Philippines, Jordan, and Albania were enrolled from community settings and hospitals. Interviewers administered a questionnaire to their mothers. Mothers of infants aged 6-11 months rated their intention (small-to-moderate vs. large chance) to accept pediatric vaccination if it was offered at no-cost. The importance of knowledge, attitudes, and sociodemographic characteristics in predicting influenza vaccination intention was measured as the mean decrease in Gini index when that factor was excluded from 1000 decision trees in a random forest analysis. RESULTS: In total, 1,308 mothers were enrolled from the community setting and 3,286 from the hospital setting. Prevalence of at least some knowledge of influenza illness ranged from 34% in Philippines to 88% in Albania (in the community sample), and between 23% in Philippines to 88% in Jordan (in the hospital sample). In the community sample, most mothers in Albania (69%) and Philippines (58%) would accept the influenza vaccine, and these proportions were higher in the hospital sample for all countries except Albania (48%) (P < 0.0001). Perceived vaccine safety (mean decrease in Gini index = 61) and effectiveness (55), and perceived knowledge of influenza vaccine (45) were the most important predictors of influenza vaccination intention in models that also included country and community versus hospital sample. CONCLUSION: Intent to vaccinate infants aged 6-11 months in four middle income countries was tied primarily to knowledge of the vaccine and perceptions of vaccine safety and effectiveness. These findings were noted among mothers interviewed in the community and mothers of recently hospitalized infants.

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Resumen: Este artículo se presenta como una reflexión ética y jurídica acerca de la tendencia actual de los pa dres a rechazar la vacunación de sus hijos en un régimen jurídico que establece la obligatoriedad de determinadas vacunas. Se analizan los principales argumentos que los padres usan para rechazar las vacunaciones obligatorias, y, en concreto: el temor a los efectos negativos que la vacunación pueda provocar en el menor; la violación del "derecho a la autonomía"; las creencias religiosas o pseudo- filosóficas; la resistencia a la intervención del Estado en asuntos personales o familiares. De esto, nace un necesario análisis ético sobre la vacunación infantil. Finalmente, se discute la responsabilidad de los padres y del Estado (autoridad sanitaria) en el cuidado de los menores de edad. La vacunación es un beneficio tanto para el inoculado como para la comunidad, la mejor política preventiva. Al mismo tiempo, se configura como un caso complejo que demanda un debate profundo, cuyo fin debe ser el tránsito desde un aparente conflicto entre los padres y el Estado, a una convergencia por el cuidado de los menores de edad. En otros términos, se recalca el hecho de que los padres, más allá del cum plimiento de un deber normativo heterogéneo, deben actuar motivados por la adhesión voluntaria al bien del hijo y de la comunidad.

Abstract: This article is an ethical and legal reflection about the current trend of parents to refuse vaccination of their children under a legal regime that establishes mandatory use of certain vaccines. We analyze the main arguments used by parents to refuse obligatory vaccination, i.e., the fear of the negative effects that vaccination may have on the child; the violation of the "right to autonomy"; religious or pseudo-philosophical beliefs; and the resistance to the State intervention in personal or family mat ters. Therefore, this statement implies a necessary ethical analysis of childhood vaccination. Finally, it will be discussed the responsibility of parents and the State -the health authority- in the care of mi nors. Vaccination is a benefit for both the inoculated and the community, the best preventive policy. At the same time, it is considered a complex case that demands a profound debate, whose purpose should be the transition from an apparent conflict between parents and the State, to convergence for the care of minors. In other words, it is emphasized the fact that parents, beyond the fulfillment of a heterogeneous normative duty, must act motivated by voluntary adherence to the best interest of the child and the community.

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Abstract Objective: Opposition to vaccines is not a new event, and appeared soon after the introduction of the smallpox vaccine in the late 18th century. The purpose of this review is to educate healthcare professionals about vaccine hesitancy and refusal, its causes and consequences, and make suggestions to address this challenge. Source of data: A comprehensive and non-systematic search was carried out in the PubMed, LILACS, and ScieLo databases from 1980 to the present day, using the terms "vaccine refusal," "vaccine hesitancy," and "vaccine confidence." The publications considered as the most relevant by the author were critically selected. Synthesis of data: The beliefs and arguments of the anti-vaccine movements have remained unchanged in the past two centuries, but new social media has facilitated the dissemination of information against vaccines. Studies on the subject have intensified after 2010, but the author did not retrieve any published studies to quantify this behavior in Brazil. The nomenclature on the subject (vaccine hesitancy) was standardized by the World Health Organization in 2012. Discussions have been carried out on the possible causes of vaccine hesitancy and refusal, as well as on the behavior of families and health professionals. Proposals for interventions to decrease public doubts, clarify myths, and improve confidence in vaccines have been made. Guides for the health care professional to face the problem are emerging. Conclusions: The healthcare professional is a key element to transmit information, resolve doubts and increase confidence in vaccines. They must be prepared to face this new challenge.

Resumo Objetivo: Oposição às vacinas não é evento novo e surgiu logo após a introdução da vacina contra varíola no fim do século XVIII. O objetivo desta revisão é esclarecer os profissionais de saúde sobre hesitação e recusa vacinal, suas causas e consequências e fazer sugestões para enfrentar esse desafio. Fonte dos dados: Foi feita busca abrangente e não sistemática nas bases de dados PubMed, Lilacs e Scielo desde 1980 até o presente, com os termos "recusa vacinal", "hesitação vacinal" e "confiança nas vacinas". Foram selecionadas de forma crítica as publicações avaliadas como mais relevantes pela autora. Síntese dos dados: As crenças e os argumentos dos movimentos antivacinas mantiveram-se inalterados nos dois últimos séculos, mas as novas mídias sociais facilitaram a disseminação das informações contra as vacinas. Os estudos sobre o assunto se intensificaram depois de 2010, mas não foram identificados estudos publicados que permitam quantificar esse comportamento no Brasil. A nomenclatura sobre o tema (hesitação vacinal) foi uniformizada pela Organização Mundial de Saúde em 2012. Pesquisas têm sido feitas sobre as possíveis causas da hesitação e recusa vacinal, e também sobre o comportamento das famílias e dos profissionais da saúde. Propostas de intervenções para diminuir as dúvidas da população, esclarecer mitos e melhorar a confiança nas vacinas têm sido feitas. Guias para o profissional de saúde enfrentar o problema estão surgindo. Conclusões: O profissional de saúde é elemento fundamental para transmitir informações, combater as dúvidas e fortalecer a confiança nas vacinas. Eles devem se preparar para enfrentar esse novo desafio.

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OBJECTIVE: Opposition to vaccines is not a new event, and appeared soon after the introduction of the smallpox vaccine in the late 18th century. The purpose of this review is to educate healthcare professionals about vaccine hesitancy and refusal, its causes and consequences, and make suggestions to address this challenge. SOURCE OF DATA: A comprehensive and non-systematic search was carried out in the PubMed, LILACS, and ScieLo databases from 1980 to the present day, using the terms "vaccine refusal," "vaccine hesitancy," and "vaccine confidence." The publications considered as the most relevant by the author were critically selected. SYNTHESIS OF DATA: The beliefs and arguments of the anti-vaccine movements have remained unchanged in the past two centuries, but new social media has facilitated the dissemination of information against vaccines. Studies on the subject have intensified after 2010, but the author did not retrieve any published studies to quantify this behavior in Brazil. The nomenclature on the subject (vaccine hesitancy) was standardized by the World Health Organization in 2012. Discussions have been carried out on the possible causes of vaccine hesitancy and refusal, as well as on the behavior of families and health professionals. Proposals for interventions to decrease public doubts, clarify myths, and improve confidence in vaccines have been made. Guides for the health care professional to face the problem are emerging. CONCLUSIONS: The healthcare professional is a key element to transmit information, resolve doubts and increase confidence in vaccines. They must be prepared to face this new challenge.

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