The following is a summary of “Barriers to Coronavirus Disease 19 vaccination in patients with obesity,” published in the FEBRUARY 2023 issue of Surgery by Kizilkaya, et al.
For a study, researchers sought to explore the rate of COVID-19 vaccine refusal in patients with obesity who are at a high risk of severe illness and death from the virus.
To achieve the objective, the researchers administered validated questionnaires to 507 participants to assess their COVID-19 fear, general vaccine hesitancy, and COVID-19-specific vaccine hesitancy.
The study revealed that COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was high among patients with obesity, with 15% of patients refusing the vaccine. The results also indicated that hesitancy related to other vaccines is high, with 8% of patients having refused a vaccine in the past, and 15% having delayed a vaccine. The most common reasons for vaccine refusal were fear of side effects and doubts regarding effectiveness.
The findings underscored the urgent need for targeted public health interventions to reduce vaccine hesitancy among patients with obesity and improve vaccination rates. Given the risks associated with COVID-19, it was crucial to encourage individuals to receive vaccinations to protect themselves and others from severe illness and death. Furthermore, addressing vaccine hesitancy is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach. Healthcare providers must engage in meaningful discussions with patients, provide accurate information about the safety and efficacy of vaccines, and address their concerns to increase vaccine acceptance rates.
In conclusion, the study highlighted the need for public health campaigns to educate individuals about the importance of vaccination, particularly those at high risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19. The findings emphasized the need for targeted public health interventions and healthcare provider involvement to increase vaccine acceptance rates among patients with obesity and other at-risk populations.
Source: americanjournalofsurgery.com/article/S0002-9610(22)00544-X/fulltext
