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Anales de la Facultad de Ciencias Médicas (Asunción)
Print version ISSN 1816-8949
Abstract
TORALES, Julio César et al. Attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccine in the general paraguayan population. An. Fac. Cienc. Méd. (Asunción) [online]. 2021, vol.54, n.3, pp.25-32. ISSN 1816-8949. https://doi.org/10.18004/anales/2021.054.03.25.
Introduction:
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to changes affecting the healthcare systems and the approach to the infectious diseases worldwide. The hope to regain a certain level of “normalcy” relays on the development of vaccines.
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to describe attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccine in the Paraguayan population, exploring factors that could be addressed to support the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination campaign.
Materials and methods:
Cross sectional and descriptive study. Participants were recruited through an Internet-based survey, spread through social media, during the month of March 2021. All participants received complete information about the aim of the study, privacy and data-processing.
Results:
Of the 2,297 participants, 67.9% (n=1,559) were women, 49.9% (n=1,147) were employed, 89.1% (n=2,046) reported a university education, and 96.6% (n=2218) were from urban areas. Overall, 81.8% (n=1,879) of participants stated that they were willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19 if a vaccine was available. A significant relationship has been found between having applied for the influenza vaccine and the intention to get vaccinated against COVID-19 (p <0.0001), with an OR: 3.09 (95% CI 2.1-4.5).
Conclusion:
The percentage of participants inclined to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 is similar to that of those expecting a proper immunization from the vaccine. Government and health agencies should make an effort to provide accurate information that responds to people's concerns about vaccination, at any level of society.
Keywords : COVID-19; vaccine; general population; mental health; immunity..