# Assessing vaccine hesitancy among healthcare providers in Brazil: the influence of vaccine status and professional experience

## TL;DR

This study examines vaccine hesitancy among Brazilian pediatricians and finds that vaccination status and residency experience influence their misconceptions about vaccines.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific predictors of vaccine hesitancy among pediatricians in Brazil, including vaccine status and residency experience.

## Key findings

- Pediatricians with complete vaccine status had lower misconceptions about COVID-19 vaccines.
- Those with medical residency experience also showed fewer misconceptions about vaccines.
- Two distinct profiles of pediatricians were identified based on vaccine education and confidence.

## Abstract

Assess the occurrence of vaccine hesitancy among pediatricians and their patients and identify potential predictors to mitigate hesitancy among them.

The study is a cross-sectional survey using an online questionnaire sent to pediatricians affiliated with the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics. The data was analyzed using statistical methods such as exploratory factor analysis, principal component analysis, correspondence analysis, and generalized linear mixed models.

A total of 982 respondents, with a majority being females (77.4%), participated in the research. Among them, the proportion of pediatricians with complete vaccine status was 41.14%, while 90.6% had undergone medical residency. Furthermore, 9.3% worked in public healthcare settings, 30.4% in private settings, and 60.3% in mixed healthcare settings. The analysis revealed a significant association between vaccine status and pediatricians’ misconceptions about COVID-19 vaccines, with those having complete vaccine status showing lower misconceptions (mean difference of -0.15, p = 0.010). Moreover, pediatricians with medical residency experience exhibited fewer misconceptions about COVID-19 vaccines (mean difference of -0.33, p = 0.002). Additionally, correspondence analysis unveiled the presence of two distinct profiles among pediatricians, showcasing variations in vaccine education, professional experience, and vaccine confidence perceptions.

The study highlights the influence of vaccine status and medical residency experience on pediatricians’ attitudes and misconceptions about vaccines, emphasizing the need for targeted educational interventions to promote vaccine confidence and combat hesitancy within the healthcare provider community.