COVID-19 Delta Variant: Perceptions, Worries, and Vaccine-Booster Acceptability among Healthcare Workers

Abstract

Background: As the COVID-19 Delta variant has spread across the globe, healthcare workers’ (HCWs) knowledge, worries, and vaccine booster acceptance should be assessed. Methods: Online questionnaires aimed at HCWs in Saudi Arabia were distributed between 9 and 12 August 2021, aiming to evaluate HCWs’ perceptions and worries about the Delta variant as well as their feelings about receiving a booster-vaccine. Results: A total of 1279 HCWs participated, with 51.1% being physicians and 41.7% nurses. 92.5% were aware of the emergence of the Delta variant. Still, only 28.7% were found to have sufficient knowledge of the variant, and their level of worry about it was higher than their level of worry about the Alpha variant (2.32/5 versus 1.79/5). The main information sources cited by the participants were social media (50.5%), while 30.5% used scientific journals. Overall, 55.3% were willing to receive a vaccine booster, while one third would have preferred to receive a new mRNA vaccine specifically developed for the Delta variant. Factors associated with vaccine booster acceptance were receiving both vaccination doses (p = 0.008), believing that the Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 vaccine is effective against variants (p < 0.001), and agreement that mixing/matching vaccines is effective against variants (p < 0.001). Conclusions: A high percentage of HCWs were aware of the Delta variant, but only a small fraction had decent quality of knowledge about it. The participants exhibited high worry levels and showed a modest acceptance of receiving a vaccine booster dose. These results should encourage public health officials to scale up educational efforts to disseminate reliable information about the different variants and provide recommendations about receiving a vaccine booster. Further research on methods to alleviate HCWs’ worries about emerging variants is warranted.

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant: exploring healthcare workers’ awareness and perception of vaccine effectiveness: a national survey during the first week of WHO variant alert

“…This study explored HCWs’ perceptions and beliefs of vaccine effectiveness and advocacy in relation to the emerging SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in KSA. Most respondents were females (62%), similar to a previous study about the Delta variants concern in KSA, and in agreement with other studies showing females to be the mainstream among HCWs[11,13,14].…”

“…In contrast, almost 22% reported being previously diagnosed with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, compared to only 9% in the beginning of vaccine rollout, but similar to that reported during the delta variant emergence. This difference could be due to the longer exposure with the lapse of time between the initial introduction of vaccines in late December 2020 and the slow but steady vaccine uptake by HCWs [13,16].…”

Intention to Receive the COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Dose in a University Community in Italy

“…Hesitancy and willingness in relation to the COVID-19 vaccination have been investigated in different groups worldwide with a number of individuals who would either be unwilling to receive it or refuse it altogether despite the severity of the disease [8,9]. However, little is known yet about the intention to receive the booster dose [10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. In this current scenario, this is a challenging issue.…”

Healthcare workers’ COVID-19 Omicron variant uncertainty-related stress, resilience, and coping strategies during the first week of World Health Organization alert

“…Regarding lockdown, a previous study of the B.1.1.7 variant about 53% of surveyed HCWs in Saudi Arabia indicated the worry about lockdown if that variant reached KSA[41]. And another study the response to the worry about lockdown was only thought of if the delta variant would cause a second wave[16]. In the United Kingdom, a third lockdown was done in January 2021 to prevent excess deaths form a third wave[55].…”

“…Certain subgroups within HCWs, such as front-line and female workers, were particularly vulnerable to worse mental health outcomes[12-15]. Furthermore, a study on healthcare workers following the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant revealed high levels of worry[16].…”