Prevalence and Factors Associated with Caregivers’ Hesitancy in Immunizing Dependent Older Adults with COVID-19 Vaccines: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Issued Date
2022-10-01
Resource Type
eISSN
2076393X
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85140886708
Journal Title
Vaccines
Volume
10
Issue
10
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Vaccines Vol.10 No.10 (2022)
Suggested Citation
Thanapluetiwong S., Chansirikarnjana S., Charernwat P., Saranburut K., Ittasakul P. Prevalence and Factors Associated with Caregivers’ Hesitancy in Immunizing Dependent Older Adults with COVID-19 Vaccines: A Cross-Sectional Survey. Vaccines Vol.10 No.10 (2022). doi:10.3390/vaccines10101748 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/84890
Title
Prevalence and Factors Associated with Caregivers’ Hesitancy in Immunizing Dependent Older Adults with COVID-19 Vaccines: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Author's Affiliation
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccinations have been proven to prevent hospitalization and mortality. However, some caregivers may be hesitant to authorize COVID-19 vaccination of people under their care. Our study aimed to evaluate factors associated with caregiver hesitancy to authorize vaccination of dependent older adults. Method: We conducted a cross-sectional telephone survey of vaccine hesitancy among caregivers of dependent older patients in the geriatric clinic of Ramathibodi Hospital. Caregivers were contacted and interviewed by trained interviewers from 20 June to 25 July 2021. Results: The study enrolled 318 participants with a mean age of 55.9 years. The majority of the participants were the patients’ children (86.5%). In total, 39.9% of participants were hesitant to authorize COVID-19 vaccination of the older adults under their care. Factors associated with caregiver vaccine hesitation were uneasiness, anxiety, agitation, sadness, and worry in association with social distancing, refusal to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, and concern about vaccine manufacturers. Conclusion: The prevalence of caregiver hesitancy to allow older adults to undergo COVID-19 vaccination was relatively high, and several factors associated with this vaccine hesitancy were identified. These findings may aid efforts toward COVID-19 vaccination of dependent older adults.