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Social Attitude to COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccinations after the Influenza Vaccination Season and between the Second and Third COVID-19 Wave in Poland, Lithuania, and Ukraine

Author

Listed:
  • Tomasz Zaprutko

    (Department of Pharmacoeconomics and Social Pharmacy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 7 Rokietnicka Street, 60806 Poznan, Poland)

  • Yuliia Kremin

    (Department of Organization and Economics of Pharmacy, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, 75 Pekarska Street, 79010 Lviv, Ukraine)

  • Michał Michalak

    (Department of Computer Sciences and Statistics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 7 Rokietnicka Street, 60806 Poznan, Poland)

  • Jurga Bernatoniene

    (Department of Drug Technology and Social Pharmacy, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eiveniu 4, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania)

  • Lucjusz Zaprutko

    (Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences Poznan, 6 Grunwaldzka Street, 60780 Poznan, Poland)

  • Nataliia Hudz

    (Department of Drug Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, 75 Pekarska Street, 79010 Lviv, Ukraine)

  • Aleksandra Stolecka

    (Student Scientific Society, Department of Pharmacoeconomics and Social Pharmacy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 7 Rokietnicka Street, 60806 Poznan, Poland)

  • Julia Cynar

    (Student Scientific Society, Department of Pharmacoeconomics and Social Pharmacy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 7 Rokietnicka Street, 60806 Poznan, Poland)

  • Katarzyna Niewczas

    (Student Scientific Society, Department of Pharmacoeconomics and Social Pharmacy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 7 Rokietnicka Street, 60806 Poznan, Poland)

  • Józefina Sprawka

    (Student Scientific Society, Department of Pharmacoeconomics and Social Pharmacy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 7 Rokietnicka Street, 60806 Poznan, Poland)

  • Patrycja Skorupska

    (Student Scientific Society, Department of Pharmacoeconomics and Social Pharmacy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 7 Rokietnicka Street, 60806 Poznan, Poland)

  • Joanna Wróbel

    (Student Scientific Society, Department of Pharmacoeconomics and Social Pharmacy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 7 Rokietnicka Street, 60806 Poznan, Poland)

  • Piotr Ratajczak

    (Department of Pharmacoeconomics and Social Pharmacy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 7 Rokietnicka Street, 60806 Poznan, Poland)

  • Dorota Kopciuch

    (Department of Pharmacoeconomics and Social Pharmacy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 7 Rokietnicka Street, 60806 Poznan, Poland)

  • Anna Paczkowska

    (Department of Pharmacoeconomics and Social Pharmacy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 7 Rokietnicka Street, 60806 Poznan, Poland)

  • Krzysztof Kus

    (Department of Pharmacoeconomics and Social Pharmacy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 7 Rokietnicka Street, 60806 Poznan, Poland)

  • Bohdan Hromovyk

    (Department of Organization and Economics of Pharmacy, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, 75 Pekarska Street, 79010 Lviv, Ukraine)

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic affected the entire world and contributed to severe health and economic consequences. A safe and effective vaccine is a tool allowing the pandemic to be controlled. Hence, we aimed to conduct a survey on vaccinations against seasonal influenza and COVID-19 in Poland, Lithuania, and Ukraine. We also evaluated societal attitudes towards influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations. Materials and methods: We conducted the study between December 2020 and May 2021. At the time, the countries subject to the research were between the second and third waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. We used an anonymous and self-designed questionnaire comprised of eleven closed-ended questions and a short socio-demographic section. The questionnaire was administered by direct contact or mainly (due to the COVID-19 pandemic) by e-mail or Facebook. Finally, we included 2753 answers from Poland, 1852 from Ukraine, and 213 from Lithuania. Results: Between 61% (Poland) and 72.9% (Ukraine) of the study participants have never been vaccinated against influenza ( p < 0.05). Totals of 67.6% of the respondents in Poland, 73.71% in Lithuania, and 29.5% in Ukraine responded that they want to be vaccinated against COVID-19 ( p < 0.05). Vaccine hesitancy was mainly related to worries about its side effects. There were also vaccine non-adopters in the study. In Ukraine, 67% of the respondents were clearly opposed to mandatory COVID-19 vaccines, compared to 41.7% in Poland and 30.99% in Lithuania ( p < 0.05). Conclusions: There are still many people who present vaccine hesitancy or are opposed to vaccines. Thus, societal education about vaccination and the pandemic is crucial. Vaccine hesitancy or refusal might be related to vaccine origin. Shortages of influenza vaccines made it impossible to vaccinate those who were determined to be vaccinated. There is room for discussion of mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations.

Suggested Citation

  • Tomasz Zaprutko & Yuliia Kremin & Michał Michalak & Jurga Bernatoniene & Lucjusz Zaprutko & Nataliia Hudz & Aleksandra Stolecka & Julia Cynar & Katarzyna Niewczas & Józefina Sprawka & Patrycja Skorups, 2022. "Social Attitude to COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccinations after the Influenza Vaccination Season and between the Second and Third COVID-19 Wave in Poland, Lithuania, and Ukraine," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-10, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:4:p:2042-:d:747533
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    1. Zaprutko, Tomasz & Kopciuch, Dorota & Bronisz, Maria & Michalak, Michał & Kus, Krzysztof & Nowakowska, Elżbieta, 2020. "Drug shortages as a result of parallel export in Poland – Pharmacists’ opinions," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 124(5), pages 563-567.
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