COVID-19 vaccination: Intention determinants among physicians, nurses, and nursing assistants of the National Health System in Greece

Abstract

Introduction: The availability of vaccines started at the end of 2020 and health care professionals were on the priority
lists, because of their special role as role models, as well as their critical contribution to the battle of stopping that
health crisis.
Purpose: Investigating the degree of intention to vaccinate health professionals, as well as searching for the determinants that have a positive or negative effect on it.
Material and Method: A multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted among health care professionals throughout the country. 2.484 records were collected using an online questionnaire and using the “snowballing sampling”
method.
Results: The vaccination intention rate of health professionals, between January and March 2021, was 72.1% and the
factors found to have a positive determinant role in this were male gender (p<0.001), older age (p<0.001), medical
profession (p<0.001), beliefs about the risk of the virus (p<0.001), higher level of knowledge about the virus and
the vaccine (p=0.002), while negative factors were vaccine safety (p<0.001), and the influence of religious beliefs
(p<0.001).
Conclusions: In conclusion, the study revealed that most health professionals wished to be vaccinated. In the future
and in similar situations, emphasis may need to be placed on the determinants associated with hesitancy.