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Increased COVID-19 Vaccination Hesitancy and Health Awareness amid COVID-19 Vaccinations Programs in Israel

Author

Listed:
  • Maayan Shacham

    (School of Social Work, Ariel University, Ariel 40700, Israel
    These authors contributed equally to the work.)

  • Lee Greenblatt-Kimron

    (School of Social Work, Ariel University, Ariel 40700, Israel
    These authors contributed equally to the work.)

  • Yaira Hamama-Raz

    (School of Social Work, Ariel University, Ariel 40700, Israel)

  • Leslie R. Martin

    (Department of Psychology, La Sierra University, Riverside, CA 92515, USA)

  • Oren Peleg

    (Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck and Maxillofacial Surgery, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv 6139001, Israel)

  • Menachem Ben-Ezra

    (School of Social Work, Ariel University, Ariel 40700, Israel)

  • Eitan Mijiritsky

    (Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck and Maxillofacial Surgery, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv 6139001, Israel
    The Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel)

Abstract

In January 2021, Israel started vaccinating healthcare workers (HCWs) and individuals older than 65 years with COVID-19 vaccines. Scientific literature points to vaccine hesitancy as being a major health concern. During time of pandemics, increased consciousness of health behaviors may be encountered. The current study aimed to assess attitudes to general vaccines and to COVID-19 vaccines in particular among adult (>18) Israeli general public, and among Israeli dentists and dental hygienists. Cross-sectional surveys were filled out by a total of 501 participants (361 Israeli adults >18 years, 73 dental hygienists, and 67 dentists). Along with basic demographics, participants responded to the Hebrew VAX, COVID-VAX and HCS scales. Group comparisons were analyzed using t tests and ANOVAs with Scheffe’s test used for post hoc comparisons. Dental hygienists demonstrated significantly higher anti-vaccinations approaches than both dentists ( p < 0.01) and the general public ( p < 0.05). In all groups, attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccines were more negative compared to attitudes towards general vaccines, with hygienists demonstrating significant negative attitudes compared to dentists ( p < 0.05). The general public ( p = 0.56) and hygienists demonstrated increased health awareness compared to dentists ( p < 0.05). As health awareness has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic primary strategies to combat vaccine hesitancy should be implemented in the general public, and in particular, an dental teams.

Suggested Citation

  • Maayan Shacham & Lee Greenblatt-Kimron & Yaira Hamama-Raz & Leslie R. Martin & Oren Peleg & Menachem Ben-Ezra & Eitan Mijiritsky, 2021. "Increased COVID-19 Vaccination Hesitancy and Health Awareness amid COVID-19 Vaccinations Programs in Israel," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-11, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:7:p:3804-:d:530654
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Rebecca Malsam & Albert Nienhaus, 2021. "Occupational Infections among Dental Health Workers in Germany—14-Year Time Trends," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-17, September.
    2. Lee Greenblatt-Kimron & Shiri Shinan-Altman & Mordechai Alperin & Inbar Levkovich, 2023. "Depression and Medicine Use among Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Psychosocial Resources and COVID-19 Perceived Susceptibility," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-10, February.
    3. Wei Song & Taiyang Zhao & Ershuai Huang, 2022. "How Does the COVID-19 Pandemic Affect People’s Willingness to Pay for Health in the Short and Long Term? A Longitudinal Study during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-11, January.
    4. Jing-Yan Ma & Lei Shi & Tae-Won Kang, 2022. "The Effect of Digital Transformation on the Pharmaceutical Sustainable Supply Chain Performance: The Mediating Role of Information Sharing and Traceability Using Structural Equation Modeling," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-21, December.
    5. Gillie Gabay, 2022. "Health Policies and the Play out of the COVID-Vaccine in Israel," MECOSAN, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2022(121), pages 57-62.

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