COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among kidney transplant recipients in Singapore.
10.4103/singaporemedj.SMJ-2021-332
- Author:
Ian Tatt LIEW
1
;
Hanis Abdul KADIR
2
;
Sobhana THANGARAJU
1
;
Quan Yao HO
1
;
Eleanor NG
3
;
Fiona FOO
3
;
Terence KEE
1
Author Information
1. Department of Renal Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
2. Health Services Research Unit, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
3. Sing Health Duke-NUS Transplant Centre, Singapore.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH:
Humans;
Kidney Transplantation;
Singapore/epidemiology*;
Male;
Cross-Sectional Studies;
Female;
COVID-19 Vaccines;
COVID-19/epidemiology*;
Middle Aged;
Adult;
Transplant Recipients/psychology*;
Patient Acceptance of Health Care/statistics & numerical data*;
Vaccination Hesitancy/psychology*;
Surveys and Questionnaires;
Vaccination/psychology*;
Aged;
SARS-CoV-2
- From:Singapore medical journal
2025;66(2):73-80
- CountrySingapore
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
INTRODUCTION:A successful vaccination programme forms the cornerstone of controlling coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The unprecedented speed of COVID-19 vaccine development and lack of long-term data have raised fears regarding its safety and efficacy. Vaccine hesitancy can undermine the uptake, and hence success of the vaccination programme. Given the high complication rates of COVID-19 infections in kidney transplant recipients, it is particularly important to identify and address vaccine hesitancy in this population.
METHODS:We conducted a cross-sectional survey among kidney transplant recipients attending transplant clinic between 5 April and 5 May 2021. The survey assessed attitudes towards COVID-19, willingness/hesitancy towards COVID-19 vaccination, vaccination concerns and prompts to vaccination. This was scored on a Likert scale with scores ranging from 'strongly disagree' - 1 point to 'strongly agree' - 5 points.
RESULTS:One hundred and one completed responses were captured. Of these, 86% respondents reported to agree or strongly agree to vaccination. This was despite significant concerns of allograft rejection (mean score 4.12, standard deviation [SD] 0.97) and decreased immunosuppressant efficacy (mean score 4.14, SD 0.96) with vaccination. Multivariable model showed a positive association with transplant vintage of ≥ 5 years (median 2.41), lower educational levels of secondary school or less (median 5.82) and healthcare provider advocacy (median 1.88) in predicting vaccine acceptance.
CONCLUSIONS:Vaccine acceptance rate was high among kidney transplant recipients. Vaccine hesitancy remains a concern in those with a transplant vintage of less than 5 years and those with tertiary educational level. Healthcare provider advocacy is important in improving vaccine acceptance rates.
