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Objective: To find out the opinions concerning vaccine hesitancy of people and influencing factors who had not received COVID-19 vaccination. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. It was carried out between February and April 2022 with individuals who were not vaccinated against COVID-19. It included 634 participants registered at a family health center in Rize, Turkey. Data were collected by telephone using a questionnaire. For statistical analysis, the R programming language was used. The Boruta algorithm was used to rank the variables associated to the reasons for not trusting the vaccine. Results: "I do not trust vaccines (67%)" is the most frequently cited reason for not being vaccinated. The most often cited reasons for not trusting vaccinations are that vaccines are produced for the benefit of foreign companies (56.2%), vaccines are ineffective (55.5%), and vaccines have not undergone sufficient scrutiny (53.2%). According to Boruta analyses, the top three variables most closely associated with not trusting COVID-19 vaccines were belief that vaccines are produced for the benefit of foreign countries/vaccines companies, imported vaccines have not undergone sufficient scrutiny, and vaccines being ineffective. Conclusions: People do not get vaccinated because they do not trust vaccinations due to concerns about their safety, effectiveness, political influences, and potential adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ümraniye Pediatri Dergisi is the property of KARE Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The current study aimed to examine the relationship between vaccine hesitancy and personality traits. 404 volunteers between the ages of 18-65 participated in the study. Sociodemographic Data Form, Scale of Vaccine Hesitancy [SVH], and Big Five Inventory [BFI] were administered. The determined relationships between the SVH-total scores and specific personality traits were as follows: a positive weak correlation with neuroticism scores (p = 0.05; r = 0.10), a weak negative correlation with the conscientiousness scores (p = 0.03; r = -0.11), and a weak negative relationship between the agreeableness scores (p = 0.03; r = -0.20). The results of the T-test and ANOVA revealed that vaccine hesitancy levels differed on the basis of marital status and age [Marital Status: t(402) = 1.99; Age: p = 0.05; F(3, 400) = 3.27; p = 0.05]. According to multiple linear regression analysis, agreeableness and age variables predicted vaccine hesitancy levels [Agreeableness (ß = - .16; p = .004); Age (ß = .13; p = .02)]. The results of our study showed that personality factors are associated with vaccine hesitancy. It was reported that individuals with high neurotic personality levels have an increase in vaccine hesitancy levels. Similarly, as the agreeableness and conscientiousness scores decreased, the anti-vaccination levels increased. We believe that our findings will be helpful in predicting the tendency of individuals to be vaccine hesitant and in determining the target group in vaccine persuasion studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Musculoskeletal pain is among the most common symptoms in patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and it has placed a significant burden on health worldwide during the pandemic. This study explored vaccine hesitancy and associated factors in patients with positive COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction test results who were hospitalized and had back pain. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 170 hospitalized COVID-19 patients over 18 years of age. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics with IBM SPSS ver. 25.0. Results: COVID-19 patients who were married considered COVID-19 vaccinations riskier than unmarried COVID-19 patients. Patients who had not been vaccinated expressed higher levels of distrust towards COVID-19 vaccines than patients who had been vaccinated. Participants had relatively little hesitation toward the Sinovac vaccine. High vaccine confidence was found in all participants regardless of vaccination status. Those who had not received the COVID-19 vaccine reported higher risk perceptions than those who had received at least 1 dose of any COVID-19 vaccine. Conclusion: Measurements of the hesitancy of vaccinated and non-vaccinated patients or members of society towards vaccines can be an important parameter for health authorities to find solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of the perception of distrust in the healthcare system on vaccine hesitancy and to determine the association between the sociodemographic characters of the participants and their perception of distrust and their vaccine hesitancy. The population consisted of individuals who were 20 years old and above and were residing in Turkey. A total of 986 people participated in the study. The data were collected through a questionnaire that was prepared on Google Forms. As a result of the regression analysis, distrust in the healthcare system explained 20.7% of total variance in vaccine hesitancy and an increase in the perception of distrust in the healthcare system statistically increased the vaccine hesitancy. In the study, it was also determined that the participants' perceptions of distrust in the healthcare system caused statistically significant differences based on the variables of marital status, employment status, alcohol consumption, age, education level and income level. It was revealed that the participants' perceptions of vaccine hesitancy caused a statistically significant difference only based on age and the frequency of applying to the health institution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the distrust and hesitancy about coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines among academic staff in Turkey. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at different universities in Turkey from April to June 2021. Turkish-speaking academics working as academic staff in Turkey were included. The outcomes were staff distrust of COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine hesitancy score levels. Scale of Vaccine Hesitancy in Turkish Language-Short Form was used to measure vaccine hesitancy score levels. The scale scored between 12 and 60; the risk of vaccine hesitancy increases as the score increases. Results: Total 932 academic staff, distrust of COVID-19 vaccines rate was observed in 560 (60.1%). Females were 0.32 times significantly less likely to distrust COVID-19 vaccines (aOR 0.68, 95% CI 0.51 to 0.92, p-value 0.014). Those with a history of influenza vaccination were 0.75 times significantly less likely to distrust COVID-19 vaccines (aOR 0.25, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.36, p-value <0.001). However, staff informed through social media were 1.51 times significantly more likely to distrust COVID-19 vaccines (aOR 1.51, 95% CI 1.09 to 2.10, p-value 0.012). Mean vaccine hesitancy score was 52.68 ±8.72. A significantly higher mean vaccine hesitancy score was found with age 51-60 years, working in health sciences, staff had no history of seasonal influenza vaccine, received information about COVID-19 vaccines from social media and social circles (p-value <0.05 respectively). Conclusion: The study found notable distrust and hesitancy toward COVID-19 vaccines, influenced by demographics. Those with influenza vaccination history showed lower hesitancy, while social media played a crucial role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: For public health, it is important to investigate vaccine hesitancy, determine populations reluctant for vaccines, and investigate barriers and facilitators for vaccination in these groups. This study aims to modify and validate the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale specific to adults in Turkish society. Methods: The study, which was designed as a methodological and survey type, was conducted using a Google questionnaire with 720 participants who met the inclusion criteria with a convenient sampling method. Results: After factor and reliability analysis, a 2-factor, 10-item scale with an acceptable and perfect range of fit index values emerged. It has been observed that individuals who are young, single, do not have children, have vaccine allergy, and do not believe that the vaccine will protect the society are adversely affected by the environment, and those who do not have COVID-19 and flu have a high level of hesitancy to vaccine. Conclusions: The Vaccine Hesitancy Scale is a valid and reliable tool to detect vaccine hesitation in adults in Turkish society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to examine factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. An online survey was conducted to collect the data to be evaluated. The survey included demographic questions and four scales: vaccine hesitancy, fear of COVID-19, stress, and vaccine conspiracy beliefs. Four hundred and ninety-six people answered the survey in Turkey. A conceptual model was established and estimated with a structural equation model to explore the relationships. The findings identified a statistically significant direct effect on vaccine hesitancy of conspiracy beliefs, fear, and stress. Accordingly, it was concluded that individuals with a firm belief in vaccine conspiracies, high stress levels, and low fear of COVID-19 had high levels of vaccine hesitancy. This article suggests the importance of public access to accurate information and low stress levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Current Pediatrics / Guncel Pediatri is the property of Galenos Yayinevi Tic. LTD. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study aims to understand the collective sensemaking efforts and emotional reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine in Turkey between January 13, and January 22, 2021, as this time frame captured the initial days of vaccine rollouts and was characterized by high information ambiguity regarding COVID-19 vaccinations in Turkey. 45,759 tweets (written in Turkish) related to COVID-19 vaccine were analyzed. To analyze the tweet corpus, we used Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) topic modeling with a total of 30 topics based on the coherence scores, which were grouped into 6 distinct themes. The findings showed that Twitter users in Turkey made sense of the initial uncertainty regarding vaccinations by 1) discussing their vaccine hesitancy and rejection, 2) critiquing vaccine availability and priority groups, 3) critiquing the politicians getting vaccinated under the disguise of "incentivizing" the society 4) mocking photo sharing during vaccinations, 5) sharing unverified information about vaccination status and side effects 6) telling jokes about the vaccinations and vaccine side effects. Additionally, the sentiment analysis showed that the dominant emotions around the COVID-19 vaccine were negative. Theoretical implications are advanced for collective sensemaking framework, and practical implications are outlined to improve global communication efforts to eradicate vaccine hesitancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Understanding vaccine hesitancy, as a critical concern for public health, cannot occur without the use of validated measures applicable and relevant to the samples they are assessing. The current study aimed to validate the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (VHS) and to investigate the predictors of children's vaccine hesitancy among parents from Australia, China, Iran, and Turkey. To ensure the high quality of the present observational study the STROBE checklist was utilized. Design: A cross-sectional study. Method: In total, 6,073 parent participants completed the web-based survey between 8 August 2021 and 1 October 2021. The content and construct validity of the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale was assessed. Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega were used to assess the scale's internal consistency, composite reliability (C.R.) and maximal reliability (MaxR) were used to assess the construct reliability. Multiple linear regression was used to predict parental vaccine hesitancy from gender, social media activity, and perceived financial well-being. Results: The results found that the VHS had a two-factor structure (i.e., lack of confidence and risk) and a total of 9 items. The measure showed metric invariance across four very different countries/cultures, showed evidence of good reliability, and showed evidence of validity. As expected, analyses indicated that parental vaccine hesitancy was higher in people who identify as female, more affluent, and more active on social media. Conclusions: The present research marks one of the first studies to evaluate vaccine hesitancy in multiple countries that demonstrated VHS validity and reliability. Findings from this study have implications for future research examining vaccine hesitancy and vaccine-preventable diseases and community health nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine vaccine hesitancy and refusal for childhood vaccines and the Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccine in individuals aged between 18 and 25 years and the affecting factors. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, an online questionnaire was implemented on 1.033 people aged between 18 and 25 years and living in Turkey between January 28, 2021, and February 19, 2021, by reaching them via e-mail and messaging applications. Results: Among the participants, 68.8% considered getting their children vaccinated, 11.4% were hesitant and 3.1% refused. Among the participants, 36.6% considered getting vaccinated against COVID-19, 34.8% hesitated and 28.6% refused. Hesitation/rejection of childhood vaccines increased with age and when negative information about childhood vaccines was obtained. The acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine was higher in men, in those who assumed that the COVID-19 virus was of a natural origin, in those who obtained information on the COVID-19 vaccine from the Ministry of Health, and in those who made search in scientific papers. Conclusion: The rates of hesitation and rejection in the COVID-19 vaccines are quite high compared to childhood vaccines. It shows that participants are influenced by speculative news. Therefore, it is recommended that this age group be given trainings based on scientific evidence regarding both childhood vaccines and the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Konuralp Medical Journal / Konuralp Tip Dergisi is the property of Duzce University Medical School and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Teachers assume important responsibilities in improving the health literacy levels of the society. Health literacy and vaccination are important prerequisites for health protection and promotion. This study aimed to investigate the effect of teachers' health literacy levels on their vaccine hesitancy. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. The health literacy and vaccine hesitancy levels of the teachers were found to be moderate. A negative and weak significant relationship was observed between health literacy and vaccine hesitancy, indicating that as health literacy increases, vaccine hesitancy may decrease. In addition, it was revealed that general health perception and over-the-counter drug use are associated with health literacy, and age, income status, and place of residence are associated with vaccine hesitancy. The health literacy and vaccine hesitancy levels of teachers should be improved. As health literacy increases, vaccine hesitancy decreases, which is an important finding in terms of increasing the effectiveness of vaccination programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Individuals' beliefs in conspiracy theories and anti-vaccination defense play a role in the rates of COVID-19 spread., Purpose: This study aims to determine the perception of trust in, and the perception of conspiracy theories regarding vaccines among those with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and resistance in a province in Turkey., Methods: This study was conducted with 1244 individuals who agreed to participate in the study in the province with the lowest vaccination rate in Turkey. The 'Personal Information Form' and the 'COVID-19 Vaccine Perception and Attitude Scale' were used to collect data., Findings: Those who were resistant to vaccines had a low mean score on the Perception of Trust and a high mean score on the Perception of Conspiracy. The variable of conspiracy perception had a significantly negative and high effect on the perception of trust., Conclusion: The participants were highly resistant to COVID-19 vaccines. Their perception level of trust in COVID-19 vaccines was moderate and their perception level of conspiracy was high., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to estimate the prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine hesitancy in Turkey, which can aid future health policies and strategies. A comprehensive search was conducted on various databases using keywords related to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Turkey. Quality assessment was performed using Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist for prevalence studies. Data extraction was conducted. The random effect model (DerSimonian and Laird method) was used in pooled prevalence data analysis (95% confidence interval [CI]). A total of 1,072 articles were identified. After removing duplicates and excluding articles, 61 articles remained for bias assessment. Among these, 19 articles with low risk of bias were included in the review and meta-analysis. Total population included in the analysis was 15,164, vaccine hesitancy was 30.5% (95% Cl: 24.3-36.8%). Prevalence of the vaccine hesitancy was found to be 39.8% (95% Cl: 31.4-48.2%) in studies conducted before the initiation of vaccination, while in studies conducted after the commencement of vaccination, hesitancy was 20.4% (95% Cl: 12.9-28%). We suggest conducting high-quality studies in different populations to understand the level of vaccine hesitancy, as many of the previous studies have mainly focused on healthcare workers and students, and rest were community-based studies, which have generally shown high bias. Also, we suggest that early vaccination can reduce vaccine hesitancy.

Objectives This study aimed to determine the COVID-19 risk perceptions, vaccination intentions and predictive factors of family physicians and family healthcare staff working in primary care in Üsküdar. Design A cross-sectional study was performed using an online questionnaire to determine the demographic and general characteristics of the participants and their willingness to be vaccinated. Setting An online questionnaire was applied to family physicians and family health workers working in primary care family health centres in Üsküdar between 25 and 29 December 2020. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of the willingness of individuals to be vaccinated. Participants Out of 323 health workers working in 44 family health centres in the district, a total of 276 health workers were reached, including 126 physicians (n=158, 79.7%) and 150 midwives/nurses (n=165, 90.9%) (response rate 85.4%). Results 50.4% (n=139) of the healthcare workers were willing to have the COVID-19 vaccine, 29% (n=80) were undecided and 20.7% (n=57) refused the vaccine. The rate of acceptance to be vaccinated was higher in physicians, in men and in those who had not received a seasonal influenza vaccination regularly each year. Conclusions Half of the primary healthcare workers, one of the high-risk groups in the pandemic, were hesitant or refused to be vaccinated for COVID-19. Knowing the factors affecting the vaccine acceptance rates of healthcare professionals can be considered one of the most strategic moves in reaching the target of high community vaccination rates. For evidence-based planning in vaccination studies, there is a need to investigate the reasons for COVID-19 vaccine acceptance by healthcare workers at all levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy can be an obstacle to the global effort to control the current pandemic. The study aimed to test the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Oxford Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Scale. Design: A methodological and descriptive study. Methods: The research was conducted as a methodological and descriptive study. The sample size consisted of 476 academics who voluntarily agreed to participate in the research and completed the online questionnaire between February and March 2021. Results: As a result of the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), the fit index values obtained by making two modifications of the one-dimensional Oxford Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Scale were found to be χ2/df = 1.86; AGFI = 0.96; RMSEA = 0.04; GFI = 0.98; CFI = 0.99 and IFI = 0.99. The Cronbach's alpha internal consistency coefficient of the scale was calculated as 0.95. Test-retest reliability coefficient of the scale was r = 0.93 (p < 0.001). Conclusion: It can be concluded that the Oxford Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Scale, adapted to Turkish, is a valid and reliable measurement tool for determining hesitancy of Turkish society towards covid-19 vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety, obsession, hostility, and attachment styles, which may be associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Method: A total of 504 adult participants were included in the study. The sociodemographic data form, including questions on information about participants' COVID-19 infection history and concerns about COVID-19 vaccines, was filled out by the participants. The participants were evaluated with the anxiety, obsessive--compulsive disorder (OCD), hostility, and paranoid ideation subscales of the Symptom Checklist -- Revised 90 scale and the Adults Attachment Style Scale (AASS). The participants were divided into three groups: "vaccinated group (VG)," "nonvaccinated but intend to get vaccinated group (IGV)," and "nonvaccinated group and not intend to get vaccinated group (NIGV)." Results: The mean score of the AASS secure subscale was higher (p=0.009), while the SCL-90 anxiety subscale was lower (p=0.003) in the NIGV group. The mean score of the SCL-90 OCD subscale in the NIGV group was lower than that in the IGV group (p=0.040). Regression analysis showed that concerns about the safety of vaccines (OR: 140, p<0.001) and having secure attachment style (OR: 1.787, p=0.019) increase the intention to not be vaccinated. However, it was found that high anxiety scores decreased the intention not to be vaccinated (OR: 0.966, p=0.035). Conclusion: The findings of the current study indicate that secure attachment style and clinical psychiatric entities such as anxiety and obsession were effective on vaccine hesitancy. However, this interaction needs to be interpreted carefully in the context of the perceived level of COVID-19 threat, more detailed information about the safety and necessity of vaccines, the relationship of individuals with their social environment, and the predominance of vaccine hesitancy in their social environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to determine the prevalence and causes of childhood vaccine and measles vaccine hesitancy and refusal among healthcare students in Turkey. The pool of this cross‐sectional study, which included 718 students, was made up of healthcare students from the Faculty of Health Sciences at Balikesir University (N = 960). It was determined that 10% of students surveyed were hesitant regarding childhood vaccines, while 11.8% were hesitant with regard to the measles vaccine, specifically. Many of the participants held the belief that chronic idiopathic diseases such as multiple sclerosis and autism are related to vaccines; they also believed that vaccines should not be mandatory. More alarming than this, however, was that in response to a question regarding the measles vaccine, many of the students responded that "I would not have my child vaccinated with the vaccines administered by the Ministry of Health if I had a child." The findings revealed, overall, that the rates of childhood vaccine hesitancy and measles vaccine hesitancy are high among the healthcare students who were surveyed and that a high number of healthcare students hold negative attitudes that are related to rates of vaccine hesitancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is important to evaluate the attitude of society towards vaccines to understand the rates of acceptance and hesitance towards vaccination, which are essential components of public health and epidemiology. This study aimed to evaluate the perspective of the Turkish population on COVID-19 status, rate of vaccination, and also to evaluate the reasons for refusal to vaccinate, vaccine hesitancy, and related factors. Methods: A total of 4539 participants were included in this population-based descriptive and cross-sectional study. The Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS-II) was used to obtain a representative sample and for this purpose Turkey was divided into 26 regions. Participants were randomly selected based on the demographic features and population ratios of the selected regions. The following parameters were evaluated: sociodemographic characteristics and perspectives on COVID-19 vaccines, Vaccine Hesitancy Scale Adapted to Pandemics (VHS-P), and Anti-Vaccine Scale-Long Form (AVS-LF) questions. Results: A total of 4539 participants, 2303 (50.7%) male and 2236 (49.3%) female, aged between 18 and 73 years, were included in this study. It was observed that 58.4% of the participants had hesitations towards COVID-19 vaccination, and 19.6% were hesitant about all childhood vaccinations. Those who did not have the COVID-19 vaccine, who did not think that the COVID-19 vaccine was protective, and who had hesitation to vaccinate against COVID-19 had significantly higher median scores on the VHS-P and AVS-LF scales, respectively (all p < 0.01). Those who did not have their children vaccinated in childhood and who were hesitant about childhood vaccinations, had significantly higher median scores on the VHS-P and AVS-LF scales, respectively (all p < 0.01). Conclusion: Although the rate of vaccination for COVID-19 was 93.4% in the study, hesitation to vaccinate was 58.4%. The median score of the scales of those who were hesitant about childhood vaccinations was higher than individuals who did not have any hesitation. In general, the source of concerns about vaccines should be clearly seen, and precautions should be taken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 virus appeared in Wuhan, China in 2019 and spread rapidly all over the world. Vaccination guidelines have recommended pregnant women to get vaccinated against COVID-19 to prevent disease. This study aimed to understand the willingness of pregnant women to vaccinate and the factors associated with their hesitation and resistance. This cross-sectional study was conducted between March and April 2022. The sample size was not calculated and tried to reach all pregnant women who did not have any COVID-19 vaccine. In the first part of the questionnaire, socio-demographic questions, and in the last part, the short form of the 12-item anti-vaccine scale, which was prepared as a 5-point Likert scale, were applied. The study was completed with 561 pregnant women. The mean score of the pregnant women who participated in this study from the vaccine hesitancy scale was found to be 33.40 ± 6.07. It was found that as the income of pregnant women decreased, the vaccine hesitancy scores decreased. Vaccine hesitancy scores of those who stated no one gave advice were significantly higher. The vaccination of pregnant women will bring significant success to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic when implemented as part of the public health policies of countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Current Pediatrics / Guncel Pediatri is the property of Galenos Yayinevi Tic. LTD. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Much research effort is focused on developing an effective vaccine for combatting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Vaccine development itself, however, will not be enough given that a sufficient amount of people will need to be vaccinated for widespread immunity. Vaccine hesitancy is on the rise, varies across countries, and is associated with conspiratorial worldview. Given the rise in COVID-19-related conspiracy theories, we aimed to examine the levels of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and its association with beliefs on the origin of the novel coronavirus in a cross-cultural study. Methods: We conducted an online survey in the UK (N = 1088) and Turkey (N = 3936), and gathered information on participants' willingness to vaccinate for a potential COVID-19 vaccine, beliefs on the origin of the novel coronavirus, and several behavioural and demographic predictors (such as anxiety, risk perception, government satisfaction levels) that influence vaccination and origin beliefs. Results: In all, 31% of the participants in Turkey and 14% in the UK were unsure about getting themselves vaccinated for a COVID-19 vaccine. In both countries, 3% of the participants rejected to be vaccinated. Also, 54% of the participants in Turkey and 63% in the UK believed in the natural origin of the novel coronavirus. Believing in the natural origin significantly increased the odds of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. Conclusions: Our results point at a concerning level of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, especially in Turkey, and suggest that wider communication of the scientific consensus on the origin of the novel coronavirus with the public may help future campaigns targeting COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vaccine hesitancy and refusal are becoming increasingly common. During the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine refusal and vaccine hesitancy had a negative impact on vaccination campaigns in Turkey. Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the vaccine hesitancy and its reasons in Turkish society during the pandemic. Method: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted online between October 2021 and January 2022 with 502 adult individuals living in Turkey who met the inclusion criteria. Results: It was determined that %54.9 of the participants had hesitantly vaccinated, and %7.2 refused the vaccine. The mean scores on the Vaccıne Hesıtancy Scale in Pandemıcs of those who refused the vaccine (33.916±7.00) were substantially higher than those who experienced vaccine hesitancy (28.818±4.78) and those who did not (24.389±4.51) (p<0.05). It was determined that individuals aged 65 and over were vaccinated without any hesitation compared to younger participants, and the rates of vaccine rejection and refusal to be vaccinated by women, university graduates and those without chronic disease were found to be significantly higher (p<0.05). Conclusion: During the Covid-19 pandemic, individuals exhibiting vaccine hesitancy and rejection, as well as the risk factors that contribute to these circumstances, should be assessed on a regular basis. It is predicted that offering community the training by qualified nurses on the factors that lead to vaccine hesitancy and refusal will aid in increasing immunization rates and establishing community immunity in Turkish society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of ESTUDAM Public Health Journal is the property of ESTUDAM Public Health Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: This study was planned to adapt the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale to Turkish and evaluate its validity and reliability. Material and Methods: This research was conducted methodologically. The sample of the study consisted of 317 individuals from the patient relatives in the waiting rooms, who have children between the ages 9-16, who applied to the Suleyman Demirel University Hospital policlinic in December 2019. A questionnaire developed by the researcher and the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale were used as data collection tools. Results: Explanatory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis methods were used to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale. In the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale, the Kaiser-Mayer-Olkin coefficient was 0.897 and the Bartlett test's chi-square value was 1319.67 and the result was significant (P <0.001). Considering the factor loads of the items, it varies between 0.608 and 0.845. As a result of the explanatory factor analysis, it was seen that the scale consists of two factors. This finding is consistent with the original form of the scale. The internal consistency coefficient of the scale was found to be 0.86. Conclusion: As a result of the validity and reliability analysis, the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale was found to be a valid and reliable scale for the Turkish society, which consists of 9 items and 2 sub-dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination rates and factors affecting vaccination in children with rheumatic diseases. Patients and methods: This multicenter cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted between July 2022 and September 2022. Four hundred seventy-four patients (256 females, 218 males; median age: 15 years; interquartile range, 13 to 16 years) were included in the patient group, and 211 healthy children (124 females, 87 males; median age: 15 years; interquartile range, 13 to 16 years) were included in the control group. A questionnaire was administered to the parents face-to-face during routine outpatient visits. Results: Of the patients, 220 were followed up with the diagnosis of autoinflammatory disease, 174 with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, 48 with connective tissue disease, 23 with vasculitis, eight with uveitis, and one with sarcoidosis. In the study group, 256 (54%) patients and 115 (54.5%) healthy children received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Parents' concern regarding potential side effects of the vaccine was the most common reason for COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy in both groups. The median patient age, follow-up period, colchicine treatment rates, childhood vaccination and influenza vaccination rates, median parental age, parental vaccination rate, and parental education level were higher in vaccinated patients (p<0.05 for all). In addition, vaccination rates were high in patients who shared their concerns about vaccination with the rheumatology team (p<0.001). Conclusion: Parents' concerns about safety and side effects were found to be the most important factors affecting vaccination success. Identification of the underlying causes of parental vaccine hesitancy will facilitate the development of effective vaccination strategies for potential future outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we aimed to examine the impacts of COVID-19 vaccines on mental health and relationships between psychological factors and vaccine acceptance in Turkey during the early pandemic period. The study included 1042 adults (70.9% females) with a mean age of 29.55 (SD = 10.29). The results showed that vaccinated participants had lower levels of COVID-19-induced anxiety and depression, and higher levels of life satisfaction compared to those without the vaccine. Furthermore, we found that COVID-19-induced anxiety and protective behaviours towards COVID-19 significantly increased the probability of vaccine acceptance, while depression significantly decreased it. Accordingly, governments should consider the mental health consequences of vaccination, as well as vaccine acceptance and refusal. More attention should be paid to psychological factors associated with attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Aim: This study aims to determine the prevalence and associated factors of vaccine hesitancy in females with children aged 12 months to 6 years who receive service from the antenatal class of a tertiary hospital in Turkey. Method: The study group includes 370 parents receiving service from a tertiary hospital. The data collection tools of the study were a descriptive data form and the Parent Attitudes about Childhood Vaccines survey.The data were analyzed using chi-square analysis and logistic regression analysis. Results: In our study, the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy was determined as 13.8% and vaccine refusal prevalence as 4.8%. In univariate analysis, vaccine hesitancy was found to be significantly higher in mothers with a university education, who got pregnant with treatment, who were not trained about pediatric vaccines in the antenatal follow-up, who followed anti-vaccine groups on social media, and who did not use vitamin D and iron supplements regularly or never used for their child. Vaccine hesitancy was significantly higher in parents who stated that their information sources of vaccines were not scientific, who were worried about vaccine ingredients (aluminum, mercury, pig gelatine) and who used alternative medicine practices ( p < .05). In multivariate analysis, the risk of vaccine hesitancy increases 3.05 times in pregnancies with treatment, 3.74 times in those who did not use vitamin D or iron preparations, 3.01 times in those who followed anti-vaccine groups on social media,2.93 times in parents who were worried about the vaccine ingredients. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy and risk factors should be monitored closely in the following years.

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Aim: The frequency of vaccine refusal and hesitation, which is associated with many factors, is increasing worldwide. The purpose of this study is to estimate the frequency of vaccine refusal against COVID-19 vaccines and to identify the underlying factors for refusal or hesitation., Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study carried out in a district of Istanbul from 25 to 30 December 2020. A sample of people from the ages of 20 to 85 in the district was selected, and a total of 384 people were enrolled. A questionnaire about the COVID-19 vaccine was administered to the participants by phone. The questionnaire consisted of questions about the sociodemographic characteristics of participants and their thoughts about possible COVID-19 vaccines., Results: 45.3% of the participants were hesitant about getting the COVID-19 vaccine, which was declared appropriate by the Ministry of Health. The rate of those who think that the COVID-19 vaccine will be effective in preventing and controlling the disease was 51.6%. 89.6% of the participants were hesitant about getting their children vaccinated. Those who do not consider COVID-19 disease as a risk to their health were 22.9%, and 32.8% thought that they would be protected from the disease by natural and traditional ways. The median score of the participants' risk perception was 7 (IQR: 6-8; Mean: 6.8; SD: 1.7). The median value of risk perception score of those who accept the vaccine was 6 (IQR: 4-6), while the median value for those who did not accept the vaccine was 4 (IQR: 4-6) (P < .01). Factors affecting vaccine acceptance were determined as the perception of risk (OR: 1.26% 95CI 1.03-1.55) and age (OR: 0.94% 95CI: 0.91-0.98) in logistic regression analysis., Conclusion: Half of the participants were hesitant about the COVID-19 vaccines. The success of COVID-19 vaccination programmes largely depends on the public willingness to accept the vaccine., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Vaccination has become one of the most effective ways of controlling the spread of COVID-19. Consequently, revealing the evolutionary and cognitive antecedents of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and vaccination intention has become crucial. Drawing on the theory of behavioral immune system (BIS), we investigate whether perceived vulnerability to disease (PVD) is associated with vaccination intentions through the need for cognitive closure (NCC) and vaccine hesitancy. The data was collected from 525 adults from Turkey. The structural equation modeling results indicate that of the two dimensions of PVD, germ aversion predicts COVID-19 vaccination intention through sequential mediation of NCC and vaccine hesitancy. Perceived infectability, on the other hand, is directly and positively related to vaccination intention. By showing the mediating role of NCC, our results offer an insight as to why germ aversion translates into vaccine hesitancy, and low vaccination intention. We discuss the potential benefits of considering the roles of BIS and NCC in campaigns and policies targeted at increasing COVID-19 vaccine uptake and suggest implications for such practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aims to determine the causes of vaccine mistrust among family healthcare professionals (FHP) in the unit where they serve and vaccine hesitancy of families., Method: The study group consisted of 682 FHPs working in a primary health care institution. The data collection tools of the study included a sociodemographic data form and a vaccine hesitancy data form. Pearson's chi-square analysis and logistic regression analysis were performed to analyze the data., Findings: To the question of "Do you trust the active ingredient in the vaccines?", only 2.1% of FHPs responded "I do not trust" and 18.9% answered "I am indecisive". 70.7% of FHPs said that at least one vaccine hesitant family was in the unit where they served. The most important reasons stated by FHPs on behalf of such families were vaccine mistrust (73.2%), the belief that they may be harmful for the child (58.7%), and the belief that vaccines cause autism (55.6%). In the univariate analysis, vaccine mistrust was significantly higher in FHPs who were measles-hesitant and responded "The decision to get vaccinated or not should belong to the family voluntarily". From logistic regression analysis, vaccine mistrust in FHPs increased 2.8-fold for those who did not think vaccination should be compulsory, 2.7-fold for those who did not think that vaccination refusal should be legally enforced, and 1.61-fold for those under age 35 years., Conclusion: It was observed that FHPs had high sensitivity and positive attitudes toward vaccination in general.

Introduction: Changing population demographics places a premium on optimizing older adult health. Vaccine-preventable diseases represent a substantial clinical and economic burden in older adults (≥65 years). Areas covered: This narrative review summarizes the adult immunization landscape in three countries; Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Türkiye, informed by literature searches; PubMed (23–27 September 2023) supplemented by citation tracking via Google Scholar). Existing vaccination recommendations and published data were reviewed to evaluate vaccine uptake, chiefly focusing on core adult vaccines (seasonal influenza, pneumococcal, and herpes zoster). Barriers to vaccine access and uptake were reviewed, and initiatives to improve recommended vaccine uptake in older (≥65 years) or otherwise high-risk adults are described. Expert Opinion: Uptake of recommended adult vaccines is low in all three countries. Receipt of annual seasonal influenza vaccine is typically below 50% in both older and at-risk younger adults; pneumococcal vaccination rates are even lower in eligible adults (<15% and often far lower), as is herpes zoster vaccine uptake (typically <5%). Low coverage is driven chiefly by low awareness of vaccine benefits, inconsistent recommendations, and vaccine hesitancy, together with often complex adult vaccine access pathways. Initiatives and remedies aimed at augmenting adult vaccination rates are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Journal of Health Academics / Sağlık Akademisyenleri Dergisi is the property of Journal of Health Academics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Turkiye Klinikleri Archives of Lung is the property of Turkiye Klinikleri and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

OBJECTIVE: Vaccination is the primary way to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccine hesitancy and refusal are one of the most important challenges against to reach herd immunity. The aim of this study is to examine the reasons for not getting vaccinated and the attitudes toward vaccines by people in Turkiye, who were not vaccinated, even though a COVID-19 vaccine was available for them. METHODS: This cross-sectional study is conducted in Eyupsultan district of Istanbul. The study population is 12,540. A questionnaire consisted of three sections as sociodemographic characteristics, attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines, and Vaccination Attitudes Examination (VAX) scale was used. Among the sample size, participation rate is 69.4%. RESULTS: About 50.2% of the participants (n=259) are male, 80.3% are married, 13.1% are university graduates, and 44.0% are working in a job. About 32.8% of the participants have COVID-19 history. About 34.4% of the participants stated that they would be vaccinated against COVID-19. Although those who define themselves as vaccine refuser are 5.4%, those who still refuse to be vaccinated for COVID-19 are 20.1%. In addition to this, those who are hesitant about COVID-19 vaccines are 45.6%. The most frequently preferred vaccine is comirnaty (41.7%). About 13.1% of the participants stated that "if we had a domestic COVID-19 vaccine, I would have it." The most common sources of information about vaccines are television with 78.4%, and health workers are in the last place with 14.7%. "Concerns about side effects" are the most frequently cited (85.9%) reason for not vaccinating. The mean score of the VAX scale is 42.34±10.93, and the "mistrust of vaccine benefit" is higher among primary school graduates than other educational status groups (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Anti-vaccination attitudes have increased with the COVID-19 vaccines during pandemic. Our study is valuable in terms of examining the reasons of individuals who have not gotten vaccinated even though they had no access problems. Prominent concerns of the population should be approached seriously. Otherwise, vaccine hesitancy can be a decisive factor that would prevent the success of the struggle against pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The article focuses on a lower sense of collective responsibility associated with a lower intention to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Topics include considered this result is in line with other studies confirming the role of this psychological factor; and examines promoting altruistic vaccination can be an effective strategy to promote optimal vaccination rates.

Examining the factors that affect the vaccination rate among young people in an ethical frame can support vaccination promotion. Therefore, this study will elaborate, through an ethical lens, on young people's hesitation about and decisions regarding getting vaccinated. The cross-sectional study was conducted with 2428 people aged 15–30 in Turkey in June 2022. The questionnaire included the following subtitles: psycho-social situation, health services and health policies, COVID-19 vaccine, and predictions about life and health after the pandemic. The average age was 22.9 years. In the study sample, 80% were vaccinated, while 20% were not. Vaccinated participants acted more cautiously to protect their health. Receiving accurate and sufficient information on proposed vaccines affects vaccination status. The primary reason for getting vaccinated was "to protect their health, families, and relatives", and the primary reason for not getting vaccinated was "not trusting the vaccine content or the country where the vaccine was produced". Specifically, those vaccinated felt more relaxed physically, psychologically, and socially. In addition, the expectations for the future of those vaccinated were significantly higher. Accurate and adequate information is essential for reducing vaccine hesitancy. In addition, promoting prosocial behaviors in young people and highlighting related values will support vaccination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to determine the knowledge and attitudes of physicians and nurses as parents about human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and their views on vaccination in children. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 72 physicians and 128 nurses who had children. Data were collected using questionnaires prepared by researchers. Descriptive statistical analysis and chi-square tests were used for data analysis. Results: In this study, 84.7% of physicians and 70.3% of the nurses knew that HPV is a cancer factor, and two-thirds of the healthcare professionals believed that the HPV vaccine is protective. Moreover, 62.5% of physicians and 74.2% of nurses reported that they did not intend to vaccinate their children. The reasons for vaccination hesitancy of healthcare professionals was believing it was unnecessary, thinking it was expensive, having insufficient knowledge about vaccine, thinking it may have side effects, and not trusting the vaccine. In this sample, 70.8% of physicians and 53.9% of nurses stated that they could have their children vaccinated only if the HPV vaccines were in the national vaccination schedule. Discussion: Further studies should be conducted to include the HPV vaccine in the childhood national vaccination program to reduce vaccine hesitancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of African Journal of Reproductive Health is the property of Women's Health & Action Research Centre and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)