COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, acceptance and informational needs in an Australian cancer population: a cross-sectional survey
Brighid Scanlon A B * , David Wyld A B C , Paul Firman A C , Midori Nakagaki A C , Jo Durham D , Glen Kennedy B E , Paul Moran E , Michael Smith B E and Nicole Gavin A B CA Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Butterfield Street, Herston, Qld 4029, Australia.
B Queensland University of Technology, 149 Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove, Qld 4059, Australia.
C University of Queensland, 11 Wyndham Street, Herston, Qld 4006, Australia.
D School of Public Health, Queensland University of Technology, 149 Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove, Qld 4059, Australia.
E Cancer Care Services, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Butterfield Street, Herston, Qld 4029, Australia.
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, acceptance, and unmet informational needs in a cancer population during the first phase of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination rollout in Australia.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a large tertiary hospital in Queensland, Australia, between 10 May and 31 July 2021. The survey assessed health beliefs, experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and informational needs.
COVID-19 was perceived to be a significant threat to both physical and mental health. While 57.9% (n = 110) of respondents believed the COVID-19 vaccines were safe and 64.2% (n = 122) believed they were effective, more than half (52.6%; n = 100) agreed that they worried about vaccine side effects. Most respondents (84.2%; n = 160) planned to receive the COVID-19 vaccine; however, feelings of hesitancy remained. There was a statistically significant association between those aged under 60 years (P = 0.003), those with previous vaccine hesitancy (P = 0.000), those who felt they had not received adequate information (P = 0.000) and vaccine hesitancy. Requested information pertained to interactions with cancer treatments, those with a history of blood clotting and information for those undergoing bone marrow transplantation.
There is a need for tailored COVID-19 vaccine communication that is responsive to the concerns of people with cancer. This will be beneficial during current and future vaccination rollouts.
Keywords: cancer, communication, COVID-19, oncology, pandemic, vaccination, vaccine hesitancy.
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