Comparison of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Between Healthcare Workers and Community Members: Implications for Future Vaccination Strategies

Authors : Banu Ersoy Şen, Levent Akın
Pages : 299-312
Doi:10.35232/estudamhsd.1697945
View : 101 | Download : 202
Publication Date : 2025-11-06
Article Type : Research Paper
Abstract :The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly reshaped global perceptions of vaccination. While vaccine hesitancy existed before the pandemic, the rapid development of vaccines and the emergence of new variants have further amplified concerns, making vaccine acceptance a pressing public health issue. This cross-sectional study was conducted between March and April 2021 in the Mamak district of Ankara, Türkiye, with 316 contact tracing personnel and 310 community members. The study aimed to evaluate COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, attitudes toward rapidly developed vaccines, and differences between healthcare workers and the general public. Based on the data collected from the participants, it was determined that 49.1% of the contact tracing teams and 31.6% of the community members scored above the average score of all participants on the COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy questions. Among healthcare workers, the main reasons for hesitancy were concerns about long-term side effects and the duration of vaccine protection. In contrast, among community members, the primary concerns were insufficient knowledge about vaccines and doubts regarding the short-term effectiveness of the vaccine. Regression analysis showed that vaccination status, pandemic-related fear levels, prior influenza vaccination, and frequency of following pandemic-related news were significant predictors of vaccine attitudes. These findings suggest that vaccine hesitancy is not limited to COVID-19 specific concerns but is also associated with broader issues such as trust in the vaccine development process and confidence in public health authorities. Addressing these complex factors at both the healthcare and community levels is essential for future pandemic preparedness and for building resilient public health systems.
Keywords : COVID-19, aşı tereddüdü, sağlık çalışanları

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