%0 Journal Article
%T COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Hesitancy among Healthcare Workers at a Teaching Hospital in Zambia: Findings and Implications
%A Steward Mudenda
%A Banji Moonga
%A Maisa Kasanga
%A Victor Daka
%A Ngoni Veddie Muzondo
%A Ruth Lindizyani Mfune
%A Shafiq Mohamed
%A Nathan Mugenyi
%A Manal Hadi Ghaffoori Kanaan
%A Billy Chabalenge
%J Open Access Library Journal
%V 11
%N 7
%P 1-17
%@ 2333-9721
%D 2024
%I Open Access Library
%R 10.4236/oalib.1111827
%X <strong>Introduction</strong>: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines provided renewed hope in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. To promote extensive vaccination coverage, it is imperative to assess the inclination towards receiving vaccines and examine the influencing factors among healthcare workers (HCWs). This study evaluated COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy among HCWs at a Teaching Hospital in Zambia. <strong>Materials and Methods</strong>: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 HCWs at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia from August 2022 to October 2022 using a structured questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 23.0. Statistical significance was determined at a 95% confidence level.<strong> Results</strong>: A total of 200 participants were enrolled in the study of which 71.5% (n = 143) were female and 57% (n = 114) were aged between 20 and 30 years. The overall vaccine acceptance was 73% and was higher among medical doctors and nurses than pharmacists. Of the 146 HCWs that had been vaccinated, 69.2% had received the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. Vaccine hesitancy was due to the fear of side effects, concerns about vaccine effectiveness, and rushed development of the COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccine acceptance was influenced by age (p = 0.037), profession (p = 0.001) and providing direct care to COVID-19 patients (p = 0.001). <strong>Conclusion</strong>: This study found a high acceptance and uptake of the COVID-19 vaccines among frontline HCWs, especially among medical doctors and nurses which is key due to their clinical role of providing direct care to COVID-19 patients. There is a need to address the factors that cause vaccine hesitancy among some HCWs.<br />
%K COVID-19
%K Healthcare Workers
%K Vaccination
%K Vaccine Hesitancy
%K Vaccine Uptake
%K Zambia
%U http://www.oalib.com/paper/6828975