Does Hospitalization Change the Perception of COVID-19 Vaccines among Unvaccinated Patients?

Abstract

The COVID-19 vaccination has been the subject of unprecedented misinformation, false news, and public concerns. This study presents a unique analysis comprising persons who were not vaccinated and became ill. It investigates reasons for not vaccinating and evaluates how the personal experience of COVID-19 affected further attitudes and decisions related to health. The study included 730 consecutive unvaccinated patients hospitalized in 12 centers in Poland during the autumn 2021 pandemic wave. The most frequent reason behind the refusal to receive the vaccine was concern over the adverse effects, disbelief that the vaccine was sufficiently tested, and one’s conviction that COVID-19 will not affect a patient. Online information, friends, spouse, children/grandchildren, and other family members were most often the source of discouragement from vaccination. Most individuals regretted their decision not to receive a vaccine (66.0%), declared to promote COVID-19 vaccination after discharge (64.0%), and to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in the time recommended for convalescents (69.5%). Individuals expressing no regrets of vaccine refusal more frequently revealed conspiracy beliefs. The study shows that personal experience with severe COVID-19 can influence the perception of vaccination, but approximately one-third of unvaccinated hospitalized patients still appear to express vaccine hesitancy.

Frequency and Nuisance Level of Adverse Events in Individuals Receiving Homologous and Heterologous COVID-19 Booster Vaccine

“…Those who declared no interest reported a high number of adverse events and their increased nuisance level after receiving the third dose. This highlights that past experiences play a role in vaccine perception and shape future decisions regarding vaccination, as already documented in previous research [ 22 , 49 ].…”

Oral antiviral treatments for COVID-19: opportunities and challenges

“…This is because the COVID-19 pandemic has seen an unprecedented flood of misinformation spread worldwide and a rise of various conspiracy theories that undermined the trust in health authorities [ 26 , 215 , 216 ]. In the case of some individuals, a belief in conspiracy theories can be emotionally rooted to the point that even personal experiences with COVID-19 are insufficient to change one’s perception [ 217 ].…”

Fear of Illness and Convenient Access to Vaccines Appear to Be the Missing Keys to Successful Vaccination Campaigns: Analysis of the Factors Influencing the Decisions of Hospital Staff in Poland concerning Vaccination against Influenza and COVID-19

“…The results of the study are in compliance with the results of another study carried out also on Polish population but among unvaccinated patients hospitalized due to COVID-19. It demonstrated that one of the most frequent reasons behind the refusal to receive the vaccine were concerns over the adverse effects and disbelief that the vaccines were sufficiently tested [ 47 ], despite the abundant and still increasing knowledge on COVID-19 vaccines and their effects [ 48 ]. It is worth stressing, however, that the other most significant reason declared as discouraging people from vaccination was the conviction that the person will not be affected by COVID-19.…”

“…It is worth stressing, however, that the other most significant reason declared as discouraging people from vaccination was the conviction that the person will not be affected by COVID-19. After succumbing to severe COVID-19, only approximately one-third of them still expressed vaccine hesitancy while the rest of the patients regretted their decision not to receive the vaccine and declared their will to receive it after discharge [ 47 ].…”