Assessing the perceptions and factors associated with uptake of monovalent XBB.1.5 BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine among healthcare workers: A cross-sectional study in Peru
Author(s)
Jose A. Gonzales-Zamora
Julieta M. Araoz-Salinas
Carlos Quispe-Vicuña
Martín E. Reategui-Garcia
Brando Ortiz-Saavedra
Dante Julca-Marín
Hans Baltazar-Ñahui
Date Issued
19 de diciembre de 2025
Type
Article
Volume
18
Issue
4
Start Page
NA
End Page
NA
Abstract
Objectives: The implementation of the updated monovalent vaccine for the high-risk population in Peru, such as healthcare workers (HW’s), has occurred without an adequate communication campaign by the central government, which has raised many doubts about its efficacy and safety. This study aimed to investigate the perceptions and factors associated with uptake of monovalent XBB.1.5 BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine among HW’s in Peru. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study based on an online survey from March 22 to May 1, 2024. HW’s (physicians, nurses, etc.) living and practicing in Peru were included. We calculated crude and adjusted prevalence ratios with 95% confidence intervals to determine the associated factors and perceptions using Poisson regression with robust variance. Results: We included 393 HW’s, predominantly women (55.2%) and physicians (63.9%), almost half at 30-49 years of age (50.9%). The majority (72.8%) reported not having been vaccinated with the updated vaccine, but 65% of them intended to do it. Regarding perceptions, more than 70% of respondents thought the updated vaccine was necessary and protective against severe COVID-19 and mortality, but only 16.5% believed it caused severe adverse events. Only 24.7% felt the Peruvian Ministry of Health was adequately informing about the vaccines. In the adjusted multivariate analysis, the uptake of this vaccine was significantly higher among those who lived in the northern macroregion (aPR: 1.96; 95% CI: 1.15 - 3.34), had received six or more vaccine doses (aPR: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.06 - 4.51), were previously hospitalized due to COVID-19 (aPR: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.37 - 3.49), in those who received the bivalent vaccine (aPR: 1.88; 95% CI: 1.17 – 3.04), and in participants who believed that the monovalent updated vaccine should be mandatory for healthcare workers (aPR: 1.76; 95% CI: 1.08 - 2.86). The uptake was lower in those who believed that the monovalent vaccine should not be mandatory (aPR: 0.39; 95% CI: 0.17 - 0.92) and in participants who felt that the Ministry of Health was not adequately informing about the vaccines (aPR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.40 - 0.97). Conclusions: The present study showed that uptake of the XBB.1.5 vaccine was low among HW’s in Peru. Living in the northern macroregion, previous hospitalization due to COVID-19, and having received six or more vaccine doses were identified as the main factors associated with higher uptake. Our findings underscore the importance of targeted interventions and effective communication strategies to improve vaccination against COVID-19 among HW’s.
Subjects