Abstract
Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate COVID-19 vaccine booster dose willingness and identify predictors and factors of willingness and hesitance in the vaccinated population of Pakistan.
Methods: A cross-sectional web-based survey was undertaken between January and February 2022 to highlight the public perceptions regarding the COVID-19 booster dose and evaluate the willingness to get the additional dose. Demographic information and booster dose willingness were recorded through the questionnaire. Additionally, a 5-point Likert scale was employed to explore fears and beliefs regarding COVID-19 vaccinations. Univariate and multivariate regression was performed to identify booster dose willingness and hesitance factors.
Results: Of the 787 respondents, 69.6% were females, 75.3% fell in the 18-30 years age group, 53.5% were university students or had a Bachelor’s degree. Overall, a 77.8% booster dose willingness was reported. Participants showed absence or low fear levels associated with a booster dose (47.3%). 60.1% agreed it was safe to receive an additional vaccine dose, with 44.1% agreeing that boosters are effective against coronavirus variants. Independent predictors of willingness included the absence of comorbidities, whereas not being willing to pay for the booster dose was a predictor of hesitance.
Conclusion: This study showed a suboptimal willingness level of booster dose uptake among the vaccinated Pakistani population. Public health policymakers must undertake necessary awareness campaigns to strategize vaccination drives and dispel myths.
Keywords: COVID-19; COVID-19 vaccine booster; perceptions; vaccinated population; vaccine booster dose; willingness.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, perceptions, COVID-19 vaccine booster, vaccinated population, vaccine booster dose, Willingness, 【초록키워드】 Vaccine, COVID-19 vaccine, vaccination, cross-sectional, Comorbidities, vaccine dose, Health, Factors, age, predictor, demographic, information, booster dose, questionnaire, booster, coronavirus variants, dose, independent predictors, Safe, Factor, participant, COVID-19 vaccinations, Public, females, effective, 5-point Likert scale, highlight, identify, evaluate, reported, conducted, was performed, absence, receive, were recorded, Bachelor, 【제목키워드】 survey, Perception,