Factors affecting the intention of healthcare workers and students to receive COVID-19 booster dose vaccination: a systematic review

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented health, social and economic crisis worldwide, as the SARS-CoV-2 virus has managed to cause a major threat with significant morbidity and mortality in certain population groups. The risk of the virus is exacerbated by its easy transmission and continued spread, despite multilevel interventions, extensive containment measures and vaccination. Vaccine hesitancy refers to a person’s reluctance, delay in accepting or even refusing to be vaccinated despite available vaccination services. Objective To investigate the factors that influence health professionals and students of health sciences to accept, or not, a booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Sub-objectives were to assess vaccine hesitancy, and specifically those of booster doses, and the presentation of views and attitudes in the above population groups. Methods The relevant bibliography was searched electronically in scientific databases such as PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Scopus until August 2023. The main selection criteria were mainly descriptive studies, published in English and Greek. The subjects were human over 18 years old. The time frame of this search was the last four years. Results From the results of the systematic review, it was shown that many different factors influence the intention of both healthcare workers and students, as well as those in the general population, to accept a COVID-19 booster dose vaccine. At the same time, the health professionals and students of different countries and continents -that were studied- present diverse socio-demographic characteristics that influence their willingness, or not, to be vaccinated. Conclusions COVID-19 booster doses offer further immunity and reduce severe impacts of the disease, such as hospitalization and death. Since health professionals play a critical role in shaping local communities’ attitudes towards vaccines, their beliefs and attitudes play a crucial role. For this reason, it is recommended both training students and healthcare workers via competent institutions, as well as to mobilize and sensitize them, in order to base their attitudes on evidence-based practice. As new technologies and policies are built around COVID-19 vaccines, ongoing testing of their effectiveness, and updated guidelines according to the population group are proven vital to the impact of the disease. Further future studies are necessary.