Italian health professionals on the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine: An online cross-sectional survey

Abstract

Italy was the first country in Europe to make vaccination against COVID-19 mandatory for healthcare professionals by imposing restrictions in cases of non-compliance. This study investigates the opinions of the Italian healthcare professionals' categories affected by the regulation. We performed a qualitative online survey: the questionnaire comprised both close- and open-ended questions. The final dataset included n = 4,677 valid responses. Responses to closed-ended questions were analyzed with descriptive statistics. The framework method was applied for analyzing the open-ended questions. The sample spanned all health professions subject to compulsory vaccination, with a prevalence of physicians (43.8%) and nurses (26.3%). The vaccine adhesion before the introduction of the obligation was substantial. 10.4% declared not to have adhered to the vaccination proposal. Thirty-five percent of HPs who opted not to get vaccinated said they experienced consequences related to their choice. The trust in the vaccine seems slightly cracked, demonstrating overall vaccine confidence among professionals. Nonetheless, our results show that whether (or not) professionals adhere to vaccination is not a reliable indicator of consent to how it was achieved. There are criticisms about the lawfulness of the obligation. The data show a great variety of participants interpreting their roles concerning public and individual ethics. The scientific evidence motivates ethics-related decisions—the epidemic of confusing and incorrect information affected professionals. The Law triggered an increased disaffection with the health system and conflicts between professionals. Dealing with the working climate should be a commitment to assume soon.

Healthcare Workers’ Attitudes towards Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…About a third of HCWs were in favor of mandatory vaccinations against COVID-19 in a study from Slovenia, while in a study conducted in the Czech Republic, HCWs supported mandatory COVID-19 vaccines for the general population [39,40]. All three included studies from Italy resulted in similar findings, reporting that most of HCWs supported mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for the general population [41][42][43]. Another four studies (three from the US and one from Barbados) investigated the acceptability of mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for the general population [44][45][46][47].…”

“…In 21 of the 30 studies, HCWs placed themselves in favor (>50% acceptance) of mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for HCWs. With regard to Europe, four studies from Italy were included, which presented a generally supportive stance towards COVID-19 vaccination mandates for HCWs [43,[50][51][52]. All three included studies from Greece consistently showed that HCWs had supportive attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccine mandates for HCWs, unlike the two studies from France, whose authors reported a general trend of opposition [36,[53][54][55][56].…”

Views of Nigerian civil servants about compulsory COVID-19 vaccination: A qualitative study

“…Furthermore, Italy was the first country that imposed mandatory vaccinations for its healthcare workers and although 35% of them did not oblige, their reasons revolved around ethical and legal contemplations. 57 However, the benefits and risks of taking a mandatory approach to vaccination, especially the COVID-19 vaccination, are situational and should be weighed against human rights infringements and risk assessments. A study conducted in Cyprus showed that only 27.8% of participants favoured mandatory vaccinations and this increased with age.…”

Vaccine Hesitancy and Public Mistrust during Pandemic Decline: Findings from 2021 and 2023 Cross-Sectional Surveys in Northern Italy

“…Both regions share certain geographical and socioeconomic characteristics, yet they exhibit distinct vaccine uptake patterns [ 11 ]. Comparative data illustrate that South Tyrol’s vaccination rates, apparently influenced by initiatives like the “Green Pass” and mandatory vaccinations [ 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 ], significantly diverge from those in neighboring Trentino and the national average, reflecting its unique public health landscape. In South Tyrol, the German-speaking [ 13 ], predominantly rural [ 15 ], population tends to exhibit lower rates of acceptance than Italian speakers.…”