Attitudes toward COVID-19 Vaccination: A Survey of Chinese Patients with Rheumatic Diseases

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Public Health
• Rheumatology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant illness and death globally.
• Patients with rheumatic diseases (RDs) are at higher risk for severe COVID-19 due to immunocompromised status.
• COVID-19 vaccine acceptance is crucial for protecting vulnerable populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and identify barriers among patients with rheumatic diseases in China.
• To explore factors influencing vaccination willingness, including demographics, disease status, and information sources.

Main Methods:

• An online cross-sectional survey was conducted from May to October 2021.
• Data collected included attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination, personal information, disease activity, adverse event concerns, and vaccine knowledge sources.
• Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, nonparametric tests, and ordinal logistic regression.

Main Results:

• Out of 1022 respondents, 70.2% intended to get vaccinated, but only 31.6% were vaccinated.
• Positive vaccination attitudes were associated with male gender, employment, higher income, and inactive disease.
• Main barriers included concerns about adverse events and disease flare; only 29.6% felt adequately informed by their doctors.

Conclusions:

• A majority of Chinese patients with RDs expressed willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, yet the actual vaccination rate remained low.
• Addressing concerns about adverse events and disease flares is essential to increase vaccine uptake.
• Rheumatologists play a vital role in enhancing patient education regarding COVID-19 vaccination for this high-risk group.