ORIGINAL ARTICLE
COVID-19 vaccine uptake rates, perceptions, and attitudes among dialysis patients: Experience across a national sample
Deborah Balzan,
Stefanie Marie Agius,
Emanuel Farrugia,
Jesmar Buttigieg,
Deborah Balzan
Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Stefanie Marie Agius
Department of Medicine, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta
Correspondence
Stefanie Marie Agius, Department of Medicine, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorEmanuel Farrugia
Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta
Search for more papers by this authorJesmar Buttigieg
Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta
Search for more papers by this authorDeborah Balzan,
Stefanie Marie Agius,
Emanuel Farrugia,
Jesmar Buttigieg,
Deborah Balzan
Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Stefanie Marie Agius
Department of Medicine, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta
Correspondence
Stefanie Marie Agius, Department of Medicine, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorEmanuel Farrugia
Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta
Search for more papers by this authorJesmar Buttigieg
Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta
Search for more papers by this authorDeborah Balzan and Stefanie Marie Agius contributed equally to this study.
Abstract
Introduction
Dialysis patients are at increased risk of severe COVID-19 infection making vaccination a priority. We explored COVID-19 vaccine uptake and perceptions in our dialysis population, associated COVID-19 infection, and hospitalization rates.
Methods
This is a single-center retrospective study using telephone questionnaires and hospital records to investigate COVID-19 vaccine uptake and attitudes behind vaccination status.
Results
A total of 230 patients were interviewed. Vaccine uptake was 97.8% (two doses) and 86.6% (booster dose), with 79.5% vaccinated at Renal Unit. Most (58.5%) cited healthcare worker advice as a contributing factor and 54% sought protection through vaccination. COVID-19 hospitalization was higher in unvaccinated and patients vaccinated with one dose, compared to two doses (63.2% vs. 20%, p = 0.05) and booster dose (63.2% vs. 22.2%, p = 0.02).
Conclusion
Our dialysis population recognized the importance of COVID-19 vaccination. Intensive patient education and easy access to the COVID-19 vaccine may have facilitated vaccine uptake in these patients.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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