Uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among healthcare workers within primary healthcare facilities, Entebbe municipality Uganda

Abstract

BackgroundRoutine vaccination is an essential highly successfully public health intervention in the prevention of infectious diseases that greatly depends on high coverage, and health care workers (HCWs) who play a pivotal role in ensuring the high uptake of vaccines in the population. COVID-19 vaccines have been proven efficacious, and vaccination campaigns have been ongoing, however, there is a perceived high vaccine hesitancy among health care workers in Uganda. This study describes the level and determinants of uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among HCWs in Entebbe municipality, Uganda.Materials and methodsWe conducted a health facility based cross-sectional study among HCWs from private and government health facilities in Entebbe municipality between July 2021 and August 2021. Structured questionnaires were used, and data were analysed using Stata version 12. We defined uptake as having received at least the first doze of COVID-19 vaccine or completed the two dozes.ResultsThe level of vaccine uptake was 65.6%with higher uptake among males than females. HCWs aged 30-39 years were 2.7 times more likely to have been vaccinated than those less than 30 years (OR 2.72, 95% CI: 1.26-5.88, P-value <0.01), and the odds of having been vaccinated were 4 times higher among health workers above 40 years (OR 4.29, 95% CI 1.50-12.24, P-value < 0.01). Additionally, the odds of having been vaccinated were 4 times higher among health care workers that participated in COVID-19 vaccine related activities (OR 4.18, 95% CI 2.16-8.10, p-value <0.001). Healthcare workers (98%) had confidence in the vaccines although 45% of those that were not vaccinated felt that the vaccines were ineffective.ConclusionVaccine uptake among HCWs was relatively high compared to the WHO recommended uptake of 70% by mid-2022, although some HCWs were still hesitant. The convenience of vaccination services was an important factor in vaccine uptake. Hence, governments should endeavour to improve access to vaccination both for HCWs and the public.

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“…32 The UVRI conducts research, surveillance, and diagnostic activities and serves as a World Health Organization reference and testing laboratory. 33 Recently, an international collaboration led to the development of the Laboratory Response Checklist for Infectious Disease Outbreaks. 34 This checklist specifies that outbreak investigative teams-comprising epidemiologists, laboratory diagnosticians, wildlife professionals, risk analysts, and infectious disease specialists-should provide extensive interagency and institutional coordination among stakeholder groups to implement disease surveillance and effective response measures.…”