Research Article

COVID-19 Vaccination Intention and Vaccine Hesitancy among Patients with Autoimmune and Autoinflammatory Rheumatological Diseases: A Survey

Table 3

Perception, beliefs, and attitudes of the AIIRD population towards COVID-19 and conventional and COVID‐19 vaccination (n = 206).

Statement, median (min-max) or n (%)Total (n = 206)COVID-19 vaccine acceptant group (n = 145)COVID-19 vaccine hesitant group (n = 33)COVID-19 vaccine resistant group (n = 28)

COVID-19
 Perception of higher risk of getting COVID-19 due to AIIRD159 (77.2)113 (77.9)27 (81.8)19 (97.9)0.347
 Perception of more severe COVID-19 due to AIIRD172 (83.5)124 (85.5)27 (81.8)21 (75)0.237
 Perception of higher risk of COVID-19 vaccine adverse events due to AIIRD175 (75.2)104 (71.7)28 (84.8)23 (82.1)0.298
Conventional vaccination (excluding COVID-19 vaccines)
 Efficacy7 (0–10)7 (0–10)3 (0–10)3.5 (0–10)
 Security7 (0–10)7 (0–10)5 (0–10)4 (0–10)
 Usefulness7 (0–10)7 (0–10)5 (0–10)5 (0–10)
 Estimated knowledge6 (0–10)7 (0–10)5 (0–10)5 (0–10)
COVID-19 vaccination
 COVID‐19 vaccine is important163 (79.1)130 (89.7)21 (63.6)12 (42.9)
 COVID‐19 vaccination to everyone in the community is important158 (76.7)131 (90.3)18 (54.5)9 (32.1)
 COVID‐19 vaccination should always be mandatory139 (67.5)119 (82.1)13 (39.4)7 (25)
 Concerns about COVID‐19 vaccination154 (74.8)128 (88.3)16 (48.5)10 (35.7)0.703
 COVID‐19 vaccination should always be compulsory for HCWs170 (82.5)132 (91)21 (63.6)17 (60.7)
 The vaccine’s approval ensures its safety130 (63.1)113 (77.8)12 (36.4)5 (17.9)
 COVID‐19 vaccine may have adverse effects156 (75.7)108 (74.5)27 (81.8)21 (75)0.703
 COVID‐19 vaccine may be ineffective141 (68.4)95 (65.5)25 (75.8)21 (75)0.412
 An adverse reaction to a vaccine in the past57 (27.7)43 (29.7)10 (30.3)4 (14.3)0.23
 Against vaccination in general47 (22.8)28 (19.3)11 (33.3)8 (28.6)0.174
 Concerns for the acquisition of COVID‐19 from the vaccine115 (55.8)67 (46.2)26 (78.8)22 (78.6)
 I am not at a risk of developing complications if infected with COVID‐1958 (28.2)38 (26.2)10 (30.3)10 (35.7)0.583
 I am not at elevated risk to acquire COVID‐1957 (27.7)37 (25.5)10 (30.3)10 (35.7)0.525
 Vaccination is the best preventive measure for COVID‐19101 (49)84 (57.9)12 (36.4)5 (17.9)

. ARD: autoimmune rheumatic disease; HCWs: healthcare workers.