info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccine in the general paraguayan population
Autor
Torales,Julio César
Rios Gonzalez,Carlos
O´Higgins,Marcelo Gerardo
Almirón Santacruz,José
Duarte,Derlis Gustavo
Ruiz Díaz,Noelia
Ayala Servín,José Nicolás
García Franco,Oscar
Estigarribia Sanabria,Gladys
Sanabria Báez,Gabriela
Ríos Mujica,Patricia
Villalba Arias,Jorge
Castaldelli Maia,João Mauricio
Ventriglio,Antonio
Barrios Coronel,Iván
Institución
Resumen
ABSTRACT 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.