Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer

Original article

Vol. 151 No. 4950 (2021)

COVID-19 vaccination acceptance in the canton of Geneva: a cross-sectional population-based study

  • Ania Wisniak
  • Hélène Baysson
  • Nick Pullen
  • Mayssam Nehme
  • Francesco Pennacchio
  • María-Eugenia Zaballa
  • Idris Guessous
  • Silvia Stringhini
DOI
https://doi.org/10.4414/SMW.2021.w30080
Cite this as:
Swiss Med Wkly. 2021;151:w30080
Published
14.12.2021

Summary

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination as well as its sociodemographic and clinical determinants, 3 months after the launch of the vaccination programme in Geneva, Switzerland.

METHODS In March 2021, an online questionnaire was proposed to adults included in a longitudinal cohort study of previous SARS-CoV-2 serosurveys carried out in the canton of Geneva, which included former participants of a population-based health survey as well as individuals randomly sampled from population registries, and their household members. Questions were asked about COVID-19 vaccination acceptance, reasons for acceptance or refusal and attitudes to vaccination in general. Data on demographic (age, sex, education, income, professional status, living conditions) and health-related characteristics (having a chronic disease, COVID-19 diagnosis, smoking status) were assessed at inclusion in the cohort (December 2020). The overall vaccination acceptance was standardised according to the age, sex, and education distribution in the Geneva population.

RESULTS: Overall, 4067 participants (completion rate of 77.4%) responded to the survey between 17 March and 1 April 2021. The mean age of respondents was 53.3 years and 56.0% were women. At the time of the survey, 17.2% of respondents had already been vaccinated with at least one dose or had made an appointment to get vaccinated, and an additional 58.5% intended or rather intended to get vaccinated. The overall acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination standardised to the age, sex and education distribution of the population of Geneva was 71.8%, with a higher acceptance among men than women, older adults compared with younger adults, high-income individuals compared with those with a low income, and participants living in urban and semi-urban areas compared with rural areas. Acceptance was lower among individuals having completed apprenticeships and secondary education than those with tertiary education. The most common reasons reported by participants intending to get vaccinated were the desire to "get back to normal", to protect themselves, their community and/or society,and their relatives or friends against the risk of infection by SARS-CoV-2, as well as the desire to travel. Less than half (45.6%) of participants having children were willing or rather willing to have their children vaccinated against COVID-19 if it were recommended by public health authorities.

CONCLUSION: Although our study found a 71.8% weighted acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination, there were noticeable sociodemographic disparities in vaccination acceptance. These data will be useful for public health measures targeting hesitant populations when developing health communication strategies.

References

  1. Polack FP, Thomas SJ, Kitchin N, Absalon J, Gurtman A, Lockhart S, et al.; C4591001 Clinical Trial Group. Safety and Efficacy of the BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 Vaccine. N Engl J Med. 2020 Dec;383(27):2603–15. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2034577
  2. Freeman D, Loe BS, Chadwick A, Vaccari C, Waite F, Rosebrock L, et al. COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the UK: the Oxford coronavirus explanations, attitudes, and narratives survey (Oceans) II. Psychol Med. 2020 Dec;•••:1–15. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291720005188
  3. Eguia H, Vinciarelli F, Bosque-Prous M, Kristensen T, Saigí-Rubió F. Spain’s Hesitation at the Gates of a COVID-19 Vaccine. Vaccines (Basel). 2021 Feb;9(2):170. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9020170
  4. Afifi TO, Salmon S, Taillieu T, Stewart-Tufescu A, Fortier J, Driedger SM. Older adolescents and young adults willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine: implications for informing public health strategies. Vaccine. 2021 Jun;39(26):3473–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.05.026
  5. Razai MS, Chaudhry UA, Doerholt K, Bauld L, Majeed A. Covid-19 vaccination hesitancy. BMJ. 2021 May;373(1138):n1138. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n1138
  6. Elhadi M, Alsoufi A, Alhadi A, Hmeida A, Alshareea E, Dokali M, et al. Knowledge, attitude, and acceptance of healthcare workers and the public regarding the COVID-19 vaccine: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. 2021 May;21(1):955. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10987-3
  7. Dreisinger N, Lim CA. Resurgence of Vaccine-Preventable Disease: Ethics in the Pediatric Emergency Department. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2019 Sep;35(9):651–3. https://doi.org/10.1097/PEC.0000000000001917
  8. Feemster KA, Szipszky C. Resurgence of measles in the United States: how did we get here? Curr Opin Pediatr. 2020 Feb;32(1):139–44. https://doi.org/10.1097/MOP.0000000000000845
  9. Papachrisanthou MM, Davis RL. The Resurgence of Measles, Mumps, and Pertussis. J Nurse Pract. 2019 Jun;15(6):391–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2018.12.028
  10. World Health Organization. Ten threats to global health in 2019 [Internet]. who.int. 2019 [cited 2021 May 3]. Available from: https://www.who.int/vietnam/news/feature-stories/detail/ten-threats-to-global-health-in-2019
  11. Kalichman SC, Eaton LA, Earnshaw VA, Brousseau N. Faster than warp speed: early attention to COVD-19 by anti-vaccine groups on Facebook. J Public Health [Internet]. 2021 Apr 9 [cited 2021 Apr 19];(fdab093). Available from: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdab093
  12. Burki T. The online anti-vaccine movement in the age of COVID-19. Lancet Digit Health. 2020 Oct;2(10):e504–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2589-7500(20)30227-2
  13. Johnson NF, Velásquez N, Restrepo NJ, Leahy R, Gabriel N, El Oud S, et al. The online competition between pro- and anti-vaccination views. Nature. 2020 Jun;582(7811):230–3. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2281-1
  14. Maladie à coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). Rapport sur la situation épidémiologique en Suisse et dans la Principauté de Liechtenstein – semaine 51 (14.12-20.12.2020). Etat 23.12.2020. [Internet]. Switzerland: Federal Office of Public Health; 2020 Dec [cited 2021 May 3]. Available from: https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche-epidemien-pandemien/aktuelle-ausbrueche-epidemien/novel-cov/situation-schweiz-und-international.html#-1680104524
  15. Stringhini S, Zaballa ME, Perez-Saez J, Pullen N, de Mestral C, Picazio A, et al.; Specchio-COVID19 Study Group. Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies after the second pandemic peak. Lancet Infect Dis. 2021 May;21(5):600–1. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(21)00054-2
  16. Baden LR, El Sahly HM, Essink B, Kotloff K, Frey S, Novak R, et al.; COVE Study Group. Efficacy and Safety of the mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine. N Engl J Med. 2021 Feb;384(5):403–16. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2035389
  17. Campagne de vaccination à Genève [Internet]. ge.ch. [cited 2021 May 25]. Available from: https://www.ge.ch/node/23775
  18. Knotz CM, Fossati F, Gandenberger M, Bonoli G, Trein P, Varone F. De nombreux Suisses ne veulent pas être vaccinés contre la COVID-19 - le manque de confiance dans la sécurité des vaccins en est la cause principale - DeFacto [Internet]. DeFacto Plus que des opinions. 2020 [cited 2021 May 3]. Available from: https://www.defacto.expert/2020/12/22/de-nombreux-suisses-ne-veulent-pas-etre-vaccines-contre-la-covid-19-le-manque-de-confiance-dans-la-securite-des-vaccins-en-est-la-cause-principale/?lang=fr
  19. Detoc M, Bruel S, Frappe P, Tardy B, Botelho-Nevers E, Gagneux-Brunon A. Intention to participate in a COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial and to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in France during the pandemic. Vaccine. 2020 Oct;38(45):7002–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.09.041
  20. Sallam M, Dababseh D, Eid H, Al-Mahzoum K, Al-Haidar A, Taim D, et al. High Rates of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Its Association with Conspiracy Beliefs: A Study in Jordan and Kuwait among Other Arab Countries [Internet]. Vaccines (Basel). 2021 Jan;9(1):42. [cited 2021 May 3] Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7826844/ https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9010042
  21. Chou WS, Budenz A. Considering Emotion in COVID-19 Vaccine Communication: Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy and Fostering Vaccine Confidence. Health Commun. 2020 Dec;35(14):1718–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2020.1838096
  22. Baysson H, Pennacchio F, Wisniak A, Zaballa M-E, Collombet P, Joost S, et al. The Specchio-COVID19 study cohort: a web-based prospective study of SARS-CoV-2 serosurveys participants in the canton of Geneva (Switzerland). Submitted. 2021 Jun;
  23. Stringhini S, Wisniak A, Piumatti G, Azman AS, Lauer SA, Baysson H, et al. Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in Geneva, Switzerland (SEROCoV-POP): a population-based study. Lancet. 2020 Aug;396(10247):313–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31304-0
  24. Office Cantonal des Statistiques (OCSTAT). Statistiques cantonales - République et canton de Genève [Internet]. [cited 2021 Sep 8]. Available from: https://www.ge.ch/statistique/
  25. West EA, Anker D, Amati R, Richard A, Wisniak A, Butty A, et al.; Corona Immunitas Research Group. Corona Immunitas: study protocol of a nationwide program of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and seroepidemiologic studies in Switzerland. Int J Public Health. 2020 Dec;65(9):1529–48. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-020-01494-0
  26. Rey D, Fressard L, Cortaredona S, Bocquier A, Gautier A, Peretti-Watel P, et al.; On Behalf Of The Baromètre Santé Group. Vaccine hesitancy in the French population in 2016, and its association with vaccine uptake and perceived vaccine risk-benefit balance. Euro Surveill. 2018 Apr;23(17). https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2018.23.17.17-00816
  27. Schuster M, Eskola J, Duclos P ; SAGE Working Group on Vaccine Hesitancy. Review of vaccine hesitancy: Rationale, remit and methods. Vaccine. 2015 Aug;33(34):4157–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.04.035
  28. Office Cantonal des Statistiques (OCSTAT). T 20.02.7.01 - Statistique cantonale du revenu et de la fortune des ménages - Quantiles du revenu annuel brut des ménages selon le type de ménage en 2015-2017 - Canton de Genève. 2020.
  29. Malik AA, McFadden SM, Elharake J, Omer SB. Determinants of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in the US. EClinicalMedicine. 2020 Sep;26:100495. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2020.100495
  30. Machida M, Nakamura I, Kojima T, Saito R, Nakaya T, Hanibuchi T, et al. Acceptance of a COVID-19 Vaccine in Japan during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Vaccines (Basel). 2021 Mar;9(3):210. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9030210
  31. Murphy J, Vallières F, Bentall RP, Shevlin M, McBride O, Hartman TK, et al. Psychological characteristics associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and resistance in Ireland and the United Kingdom. Nat Commun. 2021 Jan;12(1):29. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-20226-9
  32. Al-Jayyousi GF, Sherbash MA, Ali LA, El-Heneidy A, Alhussaini NW, Elhassan ME, et al. Factors Influencing Public Attitudes towards COVID-19 Vaccination: A Scoping Review Informed by the Socio-Ecological Model. Vaccines (Basel). 2021 May;9(6):548. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9060548
  33. Hursh SR, Strickland JC, Schwartz LP, Reed DD. Quantifying the Impact of Public Perceptions on Vaccine Acceptance Using Behavioral Economics. Front Public Health. 2020 Dec;8:608852. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.608852
  34. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Rapid literature review on motivating hesitant population groups in Europe to vaccinate [Internet]. Stockholm: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control; 2015 [cited 2021 Jun 28]. Available from: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/media/en/publications/Publications/vaccination-motivating-hesistant-populations-europe-literature-review.pdf
  35. Neumann-Böhme S, Varghese NE, Sabat I, Barros PP, Brouwer W, van Exel J, et al. Once we have it, will we use it? A European survey on willingness to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Eur J Health Econ. 2020 Sep;21(7):977–82. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10198-020-01208-6
  36. Ward J. Enquête COVIREIVAC : les français et la vaccination [Internet]. Inserm (Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale), ORS (Observatoire régional de la santé); 2021 Jun [cited 2021 Jun 21]. Available from: http://www.orspaca.org/sites/default/files/enquete-COVIREIVAC-rapport.pdf
  37. Hetherington E, Edwards SA, MacDonald SE, Racine N, Madigan S, McDonald S, et al. SARS-CoV-2 vaccination intentions among mothers of children aged 9 to 12 years: a survey of the All Our Families cohort. CMAJ Open. 2021 May;9(2):E548–55. https://doi.org/10.9778/cmajo.20200302
  38. Brandstetter S, Böhmer MM, Pawellek M, Seelbach-Göbel B, Melter M, Kabesch M, et al.; KUNO-Kids study group. Parents’ intention to get vaccinated and to have their child vaccinated against COVID-19: cross-sectional analyses using data from the KUNO-Kids health study. Eur J Pediatr. 2021 Nov;180(11):3405–10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-021-04094-z
  39. Yılmaz M, Sahin MK. Parents’ willingness and attitudes concerning the COVID-19 vaccine: A cross-sectional study. Int J Clin Pract. 2021 Sep;75(9):e14364. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcp.14364
  40. Wang Z, She R, Chen X, Li L, Li L, Huang Z, et al. Parental acceptability of COVID-19 vaccination for children under the age of 18 years among Chinese doctors and nurses: a cross-sectional online survey. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2021 Oct;17(10):3322–32. https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2021.1917232
  41. Hageman JR. Long COVID-19 or Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults. Pediatr Ann. 2021 Jun;50(6):e232–3. https://doi.org/10.3928/19382359-20210519-02
  42. Opel DJ, Diekema DS, Lee NR, Marcuse EK. Social marketing as a strategy to increase immunization rates. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2009 May;163(5):432–7. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpediatrics.2009.42
  43. Jarrett C, Wilson R, O’Leary M, Eckersberger E, Larson HJ ; SAGE Working Group on Vaccine Hesitancy. Strategies for addressing vaccine hesitancy - A systematic review. Vaccine. 2015 Aug;33(34):4180–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.04.040
  44. Leos-Toro C, Ribeaud D, Bechtiger L, Steinhoff A, Nivette A, Murray AL, et al. Attitudes Toward COVID-19 Vaccination Among Young Adults in Zurich, Switzerland, September 2020. Int J Public Health [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2021 Sep 8];0. Available from: https://www.ssph-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ijph.2021.643486/full
  45. Holzmann-Littig C, Braunisch MC, Kranke P, Popp M, Seeber C, Fichtner F, et al. COVID-19 vaccination acceptance among healthcare workers in Germany. medRxiv. 2021 Apr 23;2021.04.20.21255794.
  46. Verger P, Scronias D, Dauby N, Adedzi KA, Gobert C, Bergeat M, et al. Attitudes of healthcare workers towards COVID-19 vaccination: a survey in France and French-speaking parts of Belgium and Canada, 2020 [Internet]. Euro Surveill. 2021 Jan;26(3): [cited 2021 Jun 21] Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7848677/ https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.3.2002047
  47. Reinikainen J, Tolonen H, Borodulin K, Härkänen T, Jousilahti P, Karvanen J, et al. Participation rates by educational levels have diverged during 25 years in Finnish health examination surveys. Eur J Public Health. 2018 Apr;28(2):237–43. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckx151
  48. Federal Office of Public Health. COVID-⁠19 Switzerland Information on the current situation, as of 21 June 2021 - Vaccine doses. [Internet]. 2021 Jun [cited 2021 Jun 21]. Available from: https://www.covid19.admin.ch/en/epidemiologic/vacc-doses

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 > >>