COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and its related factors among Iraqi diabetic patients

Abstract

Objective: To assess COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy rate and its predictor in diabetic patients. Methodology: The researchers conducted the study in Thi-Qar governorate, Iraq involving 500 diabetic patients at specialized center for diabetes and endocrinology. Results: Uptake rate was 64.4%. Three factors showed significant relationship to vaccine hesitancy (fear of side effects, previous COVID-19 infection, and believing in conspiracy theory). Also, older persons, females, lower education and who lived in rural areas were less likely to take COVID-19 vaccine. Conclusion: The study concluded fairly high hesitancy rate, and recommend that effective education for these patients could eliminate any fears or misinformed thoughts about the vaccine.