Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the hesitancy and response of people with epilepsy (PWE) to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine. Methods: We conducted an online survey among PWE in northeast China about hesitancy and response to the COVID-19 vaccine. Their demographic background and symptomatic data about epilepsy were also recorded, and we analyzed the epilepsy-related risk factors in delaying the vaccine. Results: In total, 357 patients with confirmed epilepsy were included in the survey, and only 38 (11%) patients received the COVID-19 vaccine. Fear of aggravating epilepsy (58%, n = 185), discouragement from health workers for epilepsy (22%, n = 70), and fear of patients of other unknown serious side effects (13%, n = 42) were the main reasons for delaying vaccination. A higher seizure frequency was the only epilepsy-related risk factor in delaying the vaccine (OR = 1.104, 95% CI: 0.988–1.233). None of the vaccinated patients reported that the vaccine aggravated their epilepsy. Significance: Understanding concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine among PWE could help to improve health education and promote the establishment of an immune barrier.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, epilepsy, Vaccine hesitancy, China, Side effect, 【초록키워드】 coronavirus disease, Vaccine, COVID-19 vaccine, vaccination, risk factor, immune, Health, symptomatic, Patient, understanding, fear, Frequency, Seizure, health worker, help, IMPROVE, analyzed, reported, conducted, promote, the vaccine, recorded, 【제목키워드】 survey, response, Hesitancy, Northeast China,