Table_1_Attitudes and Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccination Among Nurses and Midwives in Cyprus: A Cross-Sectional Survey.docx

Healthcare workers are at the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic and have been identified as a priority target group for COVID-19 vaccines. This study aimed to determine the COVID-19 vaccination intention among nurses and midwives in Cyprus and reveal the influential factors that affected their decision. An Internet-based cross-sectional survey was conducted between December 8 and 28, 2020. Data collection was accomplished using a self-administered questionnaire with questions about socio-demographic characteristics, questions assessing general vaccination-related intentions and behaviors, and the intention to accept COVID-19 vaccination. A sample of 437 responders answered the survey, with 93% being nurses and 7% midwives. A small proportion of the participants would accept a vaccine against COVID-19, while 70% could be qualified as “vaccine hesitant.” The main reasons for not receiving the COVID-19 vaccine were concerns about the vaccine's expedited development and fear of side effects. More females, individuals with a larger median age, and a higher number of years of working experience, intended to accept the COVID-19 vaccination, compared with those not intended to accept and undecided groups (p < 0.01). Having a seasonal flu vaccination in the last 5 years, receiving the vaccines recommended for health professionals, and working in the private sector were associated with a higher probability of COVID-19 vaccination acceptance. A considerable rate of nurses and midwives in Cyprus reported unwillingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccine due to vaccine-related concerns. Our findings highlight the need for forthcoming vaccination campaigns and programs to tackle coronavirus vaccine hesitancy barriers to achieve the desirable vaccination coverage.

医疗工作者身处COVID-19大流行的最前线，并被认定为COVID-19疫苗接种的优先目标群体。本研究旨在确定塞浦路斯护士和助产士的COVID-19疫苗接种意愿，并揭示影响其决策的相关因素。于2020年12月8日至28日进行了一项基于互联网的横断面调查。数据收集通过自填问卷完成，问卷内容涉及社会人口统计学特征、评估一般疫苗接种相关意图和行为的问题，以及接受COVID-19疫苗接种的意愿。共有437名受访者参与了调查，其中93%为护士，7%为助产士。少数参与者愿意接受COVID-19疫苗，而70%可被归类为“疫苗犹豫”。不接受COVID-19疫苗的主要原因是对疫苗快速开发的担忧和对副作用的恐惧。与无意接种疫苗和未决定组相比，更多女性、年龄中位数较大以及工作年限较长的人有意接受COVID-19疫苗接种（p < 0.01）。在过去5年内接种季节性流感疫苗、接受为卫生专业人员推荐的疫苗以及从事私营行业与COVID-19疫苗接种接受概率更高相关。塞浦路斯相当一部分护士和助产士表示，由于对疫苗的担忧，不愿接受COVID-19疫苗。我们的研究结果表明，未来疫苗接种运动和项目需要克服冠状病毒疫苗犹豫的障碍，以实现理想的疫苗接种覆盖率。（COVID-19 vaccination intention, socio-demographic characteristics, general vaccination-related intentions and behaviors, seasonal flu vaccination, health professionals' vaccines, private sector, vaccine hesitancy, vaccination coverage）