Are We Facing a Tsunami of Vaccine Hesitancy or Outdated Pandemic Policy in Times of Omicron? Analyzing Changes of COVID-19 Vaccination Trends in Poland - Publication - Bridge of Knowledge

Your account

login

Search

Are We Facing a Tsunami of Vaccine Hesitancy or Outdated Pandemic Policy in Times of Omicron? Analyzing Changes of COVID-19 Vaccination Trends in Poland

Abstract

In this study, we analyzed Polish COVID-19 vaccination data until January 2023 from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control to understand individual decision making during the milder Omicron wave. Our findings show a general decline in subsequent vaccine uptake. As the number of government-provided doses increased, completion rates among certain low-risk groups dropped to less than 1%. Elderly individuals, especially those aged 70–79, showed greater adherence but also exhibited decreased interest in subsequent boosters. Healthcare workers exhibited a dramatic shift in their attitude, disregarding the recommended schedule. The overwhelming majority opted out of receiving the second boosters, while the remaining individuals adjusted their timing based on infection trends or the availability of updated boosters. Two factors positively influenced vaccination decisions: societal influence and the availability of updated boosters. Lower-risk individuals were more likely to postpone vaccination until updated boosters were available. Our findings highlight that while Polish policy aligns with international guidelines, it fails to garner significant adherence from the Polish population. Previous studies have shown that vaccinating low-risk groups resulted in more sick days due to adverse events following immunization than the days gained by preventing infection. Consequently, we advocate for the official abandonment of this policy, as its practical abandonment has already taken place, and persisting in pretending otherwise only serves to erode public trust. Therefore, we propose a shift toward treating COVID-19-like influenza with vaccination for vulnerable individuals and those who have close contact with them before the season.

Citations

Authors (3)

Cite as

Full text

download paper
downloaded 59 times
Publication version
Accepted or Published Version
License
Creative Commons: CC-BY-NC-ND open in new tab

Keywords

Details

Category:
Magazine publication
Type:
Magazine publication
Published in:
Vaccines no. 11, edition 6,
ISSN: 2076-393X
Title of issue:
Vaccines
Publication year:
2023
DOI:
Digital Object Identifier (open in new tab) https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11061065
Bibliography: test
  1. Pierwszy Przypadek Koronawirusa w Polsce-Ministerstwo Zdrowia-Portal Gov.pl. Available online: https://www.gov.pl/ web/zdrowie/pierwszy-przypadek-koronawirusa-w-polsce (accessed on 23 May 2023).
  2. Rozporządzenie Ministra Zdrowia z Dnia 20 Marca 2020 r. w Sprawie Ogłoszenia Na Obszarze Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej Stanu Epidemii; open in new tab
  3. European Medicines Agency EMA Recommends First COVID-19 Vaccine for Authorisation in the EU. Available online: https: //www.ema.europa.eu/en/news/ema-recommends-first-covid-19-vaccine-authorisation-eu (accessed on 23 March 2023). open in new tab
  4. Narodowy Program Szczepień Przeciw COVID-19-Szczepienie Przeciwko COVID-19-Portal Gov.pl. Available online: https: //www.gov.pl/web/szczepimysie/narodowy-program-szczepien-przeciw-covid-19 (accessed on 23 March 2023). open in new tab
  5. "Ostatnia Prosta"! Nowa Kampania Narodowego Programu Szczepień. Available online: https://www.gov.pl/web/ szczepimysie/ostatnia-prosta-nowa-kampania-narodowego-programu-szczepien (accessed on 12 May 2023). open in new tab
  6. Dziedzic, A.; Issa, J.; Hussain, S.; Tanasiewicz, M.; Wojtyczka, R.; Kubina, R.; Konwinska, M.D.; Riad, A. COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Hesitancy (VBH) of Healthcare Professionals and Students in Poland: Cross-Sectional Survey-Based Study. Front. Public Health 2022, 10, 938067. [CrossRef] [PubMed] open in new tab
  7. Attia, S.; Mausbach, K.; Klugar, M.; Howaldt, H.-P.; Riad, A. Prevalence and Drivers of COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Hesitancy Among German University Students and Employees. Front. Public Health 2022, 10, 846861. [CrossRef] [PubMed] open in new tab
  8. Kałucka, S.; Kusideł, E.; Głowacka, A.; Oczoś, P.; Grzegorczyk-Karolak, I. Pre-Vaccination Stress, Post-Vaccination Adverse Reactions, and Attitudes towards Vaccination after Receiving the COVID-19 Vaccine among Health Care Workers. Vaccines 2022, 10, 401. [CrossRef] [PubMed] open in new tab
  9. Dror, A.A.; Eisenbach, N.; Taiber, S.; Morozov, N.G.; Mizrachi, M.; Zigron, A.; Srouji, S.; Sela, E. Vaccine Hesitancy: The next Challenge in the Fight against COVID-19. Eur. J. Epidemiol. 2020, 35, 775-779. [CrossRef] open in new tab
  10. Zimmermann, P.; Pittet, L.F.; Finn, A.; Pollard, A.J.; Curtis, N. Should Children Be Vaccinated against COVID-19? Arch. Dis. Child. 2022, 107, e1.4-e8. [CrossRef] open in new tab
  11. Hall, V.G.; Ferreira, V.H.; Wood, H.; Ierullo, M.; Majchrzak-Kita, B.; Manguiat, K.; Robinson, A.; Kulasingam, V.; Humar, A.; Kumar, D. Delayed-Interval BNT162b2 MRNA COVID-19 Vaccination Enhances Humoral Immunity and Induces Robust T Cell Responses. Nat. Immunol. 2022, 23, 380-385. [CrossRef] open in new tab
  12. Buchan, S.A.; Seo, C.Y.; Johnson, C.; Alley, S.; Kwong, J.C.; Nasreen, S.; Calzavara, A.; Lu, D.; Harris, T.M.; Yu, K.; et al. Epidemiology of Myocarditis and Pericarditis Following MRNA Vaccination by Vaccine Product, Schedule, and Interdose Interval Among Adolescents and Adults in Ontario, Canada. JAMA Netw. Open 2022, 5, e2218505. [CrossRef] open in new tab
  13. Xue, L.; Jing, S.; Zhang, K.; Milne, R.; Wang, H. Infectivity versus Fatality of SARS-CoV-2 Mutations and Influenza. Int. J. Infect. Dis. 2022, 121, 195-202. [CrossRef] open in new tab
  14. Grzegorz Juszczyk, A.Z. Ogólnopolskie Badanie Seroepidemiologiczne COVID-19: OBSER-CO Raport Końcowy z Badania; open in new tab
  15. Narodowy Instytut Zdrowia Publicznego PZH-PIB. 2022. Available online: https://www.pzh.gov.pl/wp-content/uploads/20 23/02/OBSERCO-Raport-koncowy-z-badania.pdf (accessed on 12 March 2023). open in new tab
  16. Vaccines 2023, 11, 1065 15 of 17 open in new tab
  17. Walkowiak, M.P.; Walkowiak, D. Am I Paid Well Enough to Be Diagnosed with COVID-19? Determinants of Gender Differences in Infection Detection Rate among Polish Working Age Population. J. Pers. Med. 2022, 12, 793. [CrossRef] open in new tab
  18. Strona Główna-Chcę Zrozumieć-Portal Gov.pl. Available online: https://www.gov.pl/web/chcezrozumiec (accessed on 12 March 2023).
  19. Vaccination Against COVID-19. Available online: https://www.sst.dk/en/english/corona-eng/vaccination-against-covid-19 (accessed on 12 March 2023). open in new tab
  20. Szczepionka Przeciw Krztuścowi. Available online: https://szczepienia.pzh.gov.pl/szczepionki/krztusiec/ (accessed on 12 March 2023).
  21. Szczepionka Przeciw Grypie. Available online: https://szczepienia.pzh.gov.pl/szczepionki/grypa/ (accessed on 12 March 2023).
  22. Neuzil, K.M.; Jackson, L.A.; Nelson, J.; Klimov, A.; Cox, N.; Bridges, C.B.; Dunn, J.; DeStefano, F.; Shay, D. Immunogenicity and Reactogenicity of 1 versus 2 Doses of Trivalent Inactivated Influenz Vaccine in Vaccine-Naive 5-8-Year-Old Children. J. Infect. Dis. 2006, 194, 1032-1039. [CrossRef] open in new tab
  23. Ritzwoller, D.P.; Bridges, C.B.; Shetterly, S.; Yamasaki, K.; Kolczak, M.; France, E.K. Effectiveness of the 2003-2004 Influenza Vaccine Among Children 6 Months to 8 Years of Age, With 1 vs 2 Doses. Pediatrics 2005, 116, 153-159. [CrossRef] [PubMed] open in new tab
  24. MacDonald, N.E. Vaccine Hesitancy: Definition, Scope and Determinants. Vaccine 2015, 33, 4161-4164. [CrossRef] [PubMed] open in new tab
  25. Zimmerman, R.K. Helping Patients with Ethical Concerns about COVID-19 Vaccines in Light of Fetal Cell Lines Used in Some COVID-19 Vaccines. Vaccine 2021, 39, 4242-4244. [CrossRef] [PubMed] open in new tab
  26. Garcia, L.L.; Yap, J.F.C. The Role of Religiosity in COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy. J. Public Health 2021, 43, e529-e530. [CrossRef] open in new tab
  27. Razai, M.S.; Osama, T.; McKechnie, D.G.J.; Majeed, A. Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Ethnic Minority Groups. BMJ 2021, 372, n513. [CrossRef] open in new tab
  28. Kadambari, S.; Vanderslott, S. Lessons about COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Minority Ethnic People in the UK. Lancet Infect. Dis. 2021, 21, 1204-1206. [CrossRef] open in new tab
  29. Reid, J.A.; Mabhala, M.A. Ethnic and Minority Group Differences in Engagement with COVID-19 Vaccination Programmes-At Pandemic Pace; When Vaccine Confidence in Mass Rollout Meets Local Vaccine Hesitancy. Isr. J. Health Policy Res. 2021, 10, 33. [CrossRef] open in new tab
  30. CBOS. Polacy Wobec Epidemii Koronawirusa Pod Koniec Wakacji; CBOS: Warszawa, Poland, 2022; ISBN 2353-5822. open in new tab
  31. Ghaddar, A.; Khandaqji, S.; Awad, Z.; Kansoun, R. Conspiracy Beliefs and Vaccination Intent for COVID-19 in an Infodemic. PLoS ONE 2022, 17, e0261559. [CrossRef] open in new tab
  32. Gołębiowska, J.; Zimny-Zając, A.; Dróżdż, M.; Makuch, S.; Dudek, K.; Mazur, G.; Agrawal, S. Evaluation of the Approach towards Vaccination against COVID-19 among the Polish Population-In Relation to Sociodemographic Factors and Physical and Mental Health. Vaccines 2023, 11, 700. [CrossRef] open in new tab
  33. CBOS. Polish Public Opinion; CBOS: Warszawa, Poland, 2023; Volume 2, ISBN 2083-1714. open in new tab
  34. GUS-Bank Danych Lokalnych. Available online: https://bdl.stat.gov.pl/bdl/start (accessed on 12 March 2023). open in new tab
  35. Raport Szczepień Przeciwko COVID-19-Szczepienie Przeciwko COVID-19-Portal Gov.pl. Available online: https://www.gov. pl/web/szczepimysie/raport-szczepien-przeciwko-covid-19 (accessed on 24 May 2023). open in new tab
  36. Strona Główna-Otwarte Dane. Available online: https://dane.gov.pl/pl (accessed on 24 May 2023).
  37. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker. Available online: https://vaccinetracker.ecdc. europa.eu/public/extensions/COVID-19/vaccine-tracker.html#uptake-tab (accessed on 12 March 2023). open in new tab
  38. How ECDC Collects and Processes COVID-19 Data. Available online: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/covid-19/data-collection (accessed on 26 May 2023). open in new tab
  39. Komunikat Dotyczący Szczepień Personelu Medycznego i Niemedycznego Przeciw COVID-19 w Szpitalach Węzłowych- Ministerstwo Zdrowia-Portal Gov.pl. Available online: https://www.gov.pl/web/zdrowie/komunikat-dotyczacy-szczepien- personelu-medycznego-i-niemedycznego-przeciw-covid19-w-szpitalach-wezlowych (accessed on 12 March 2023). open in new tab
  40. Obowiązek Szczepienia Służb Medycznych-Ministerstwo Zdrowia-Portal Gov.pl. Available online: https://www.gov.pl/ web/zdrowie/obowiazek-szczepienia-sluzb-medycznych (accessed on 12 March 2023).
  41. Aktualizacja Fizjoterapeuci Mają Obowiązek Poddania się Szczepieniom Przeciwko COVID-19. Available online: https://kif.info. pl/informacje/fizjoterapeuci-maja-obowiazek-poddania-sie-szczepieniom-przeciwko-covid-19/ (accessed on 12 May 2023). open in new tab
  42. Komunikat nr 27 Ministra Zdrowia w Sprawie Drugiej Dawki Przypominającej Przeciw COVID-19 dla Personelu Medycznego w Narodowym Programie Szczepień-Ministerstwo Zdrowia-Portal Gov.pl. Available online: https: //www.gov.pl/web/zdrowie/komunikat-nr-27-ministra-zdrowia-w-sprawie-drugiej-dawki-przypominajacej-przeciw- covid-19-dla-personelu-medycznego-w-narodowym-programie-szczepien (accessed on 12 May 2023). open in new tab
  43. Szczepienia Przeciw COVID-19. Ilu Jest Zaszczepionych Lekarzy w Polsce. Available online: https://www.medonet.pl/ porozmawiajmyoszczepionce,szczepienia-przeciw-covid-19{-}{-}ilu-jest-zaszczepionych-lekarzy-w-polsce,artykul,32314696 .html (accessed on 12 March 2023). open in new tab
  44. Walkowiak, M.P.; Domaradzki, J.; Walkowiak, D. Better Late Than Never: Predictors of Delayed COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake in Poland. Vaccines 2022, 10, 528. [CrossRef] open in new tab
  45. Walkowiak, M.P.; Walkowiak, J.B.; Walkowiak, D. COVID-19 Passport as a Factor Determining the Success of National Vaccination Campaigns: Does It Work? The Case of Lithuania vs. Poland. Vaccines 2021, 9, 1498. [CrossRef] [PubMed] open in new tab
  46. Szczepienia Ochronne w Polsce w 2020 Roku/Vaccinations in Poland in 2020; Narodowy Instytut Zdrowia Publicznego PZH: Warszawa, Poland, 2021. open in new tab
  47. Szczepienie czy Ospa-Party?-Główny Inspektorat Sanitarny-Portal Gov.pl. Available online: https://www.gov.pl/web/gis/ szczepienie-czy-ospa-party2 (accessed on 15 May 2023). open in new tab
  48. Walkowiak, M.P.; Walkowiak, J.B.; Walkowiak, D. More Time, Carrot-and-Stick, or Piling Coffins? Estimating the Role of Factors Overcoming COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Poland and Lithuania in the Years 2021-2022. Vaccines 2022, 10, 1523. [CrossRef] open in new tab
  49. Nie Będzie Można Wybrać Szczepionki. Rzecznik MZ: To nie Nowy Telefon. Available online: https://www.medonet.pl/ porozmawiajmyoszczepionce,nie-bedzie-mozna-wybrac-szczepionki{-}{-}rzecznik-mz{-}{-}to-nie-nowy-telefon,artykul,0768 2725.html (accessed on 12 March 2023).
  50. Joffe, A.R. COVID-19: Rethinking the Lockdown Groupthink. Front. Public Health 2021, 9, 98. [CrossRef] [PubMed] open in new tab
  51. Non-Pharmaceutical Public Health Measures for Mitigating the Risk and Impact of Epidemic and Pandemic Influenza. Available online: https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/non-pharmaceutical-public-health-measuresfor-mitigating-the-risk- and-impact-of-epidemic-and-pandemic-influenza (accessed on 24 March 2023). open in new tab
  52. Global COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy in a Changing World: July 2022 Update. Available online: https://www.who. int/publications/m/item/global-covid-19-vaccination-strategy-in-a-changing-world{-}{-}july-2022-update (accessed on 23 March 2023). open in new tab
  53. WHO COVID-19 Advice for the Public: Getting Vaccinated. Available online: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/ novel-coronavirus-2019/covid-19-vaccines/advice (accessed on 29 April 2023). open in new tab
  54. ECDC. Interim Public Health Considerations for COVID-19 Vaccination Roll-Out During 2023. Technical Report 2023. Available online: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/interim-public-health-considerations-covid-19-vaccination-roll- out-during-2023 (accessed on 12 March 2023).
  55. Catalogue of Interventions Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy. Available online: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications- data/catalogue-interventions-addressing-vaccine-hesitancy (accessed on 23 May 2023). open in new tab
  56. Krug, A.; Stevenson, J.; Høeg, T.B. BNT162b2 Vaccine-Associated Myo/Pericarditis in Adolescents: A Stratified Risk-Benefit Analysis. Eur. J. Clin. Investig. 2022, 52, e13759. [CrossRef] [PubMed] open in new tab
  57. Menni, C.; Klaser, K.; May, A.; Polidori, L.; Capdevila, J.; Louca, P.; Sudre, C.H.; Nguyen, L.H.; Drew, D.A.; Merino, J.; et al. Vaccine Side-Effects and SARS-CoV-2 Infection after Vaccination in Users of the COVID Symptom Study App in the UK: A Prospective Observational Study. Lancet Infect. Dis. 2021, 21, 939-949. [CrossRef] [PubMed] open in new tab
  58. Menni, C.; May, A.; Polidori, L.; Louca, P.; Wolf, J.; Capdevila, J.; Hu, C.; Ourselin, S.; Steves, C.J.; Valdes, A.M.; et al. COVID-19 open in new tab
  59. Vaccine Waning and Effectiveness and Side-Effects of Boosters: A Prospective Community Study from the ZOE COVID Study. Lancet Infect. Dis. 2022, 22, 1002-1010. [CrossRef] open in new tab
  60. Nordström, P.; Ballin, M.; Nordström, A. Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection and COVID-19 Hospitalisation in Individuals with Natural and Hybrid Immunity: A Retrospective, Total Population Cohort Study in Sweden. Lancet Infect. Dis. 2022, 22, 781-790. [CrossRef] open in new tab
  61. Wise, J. Covid-19: Symptomatic Infection with Omicron Variant Is Milder and Shorter than with Delta, Study Reports. BMJ Br. Med. J. 2022, 3777, o922. [CrossRef] open in new tab
  62. Monitoring SARS-CoV-2 wŚciekach. Available online: https://www.poznan.pl/mim/wortals/wortal,285/news,9341 /monitoring-sars-cov-2-w-sciekach,183099.html (accessed on 13 March 2023).
  63. Walkowiak, M.P.; Walkowiak, D. Underestimation in Reporting Excess COVID-19 Death Data in Poland during the First Three Pandemic Waves. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 3692. [CrossRef] open in new tab
  64. Flu News Europe. Available online: https://flunewseurope.org/SeasonOverview (accessed on 13 May 2023).
  65. Simonsen, L.; Viboud, C. A Comprehensive Look at the COVID-19 Pandemic Death Toll. eLife 2021, 10, e71974. [CrossRef] open in new tab
  66. Åberg, M.; Sandberg, M. Social Capital and Democratisation: Roots of Trust in Post-Communist Poland and Ukraine; Routledge: London, UK, 2017; ISBN 978-1-351-89971-0. open in new tab
  67. Farzanegan, M.R.; Hofmann, H.P. A Matter of Trust? Political Trust and the COVID-19 Pandemic. Int. J. Sociol. 2022, 52, 476-499. [CrossRef] open in new tab
  68. Stamm, T.A.; Partheymüller, J.; Mosor, E.; Ritschl, V.; Kritzinger, S.; Alunno, A.; Eberl, J.-M. Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Fatigue. Nat. Med. 2023, 29, 1164-1171. [CrossRef] [PubMed] open in new tab
  69. Kahneman, D. Thinking, Fast and Slow; Macmillan: London, UK, 2011.
  70. Disclaimer/Publisher's Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content.
Verified by:
No verification

seen 125 times

Recommended for you

Mapping of the Covid-19 Vaccine Uptake Determinants From Mining Twitter Data

2021

Investigating beliefs in anti-vax conspiracy theories among medical students

2024

The importance of trust and altruistic social orientation for COVID-19 distress

2023

Sense of safety and opinions about COVID-19 vaccinations in Polish school teachers: The role of conspiracy theories belief and fear of COVID-19

2023
Meta Tags