WILLINGNESS TO RECEIVE COVID-l9 VACCINATION IN COSTUMERS ACCESSING COMMUNITY PHARMACIES IN THE PROVINCE OF PALERMO.ITALY.

Abstract

In Italy, vaccination against COVID-l 9 began on December 27, 2020. To date, 13,7 13,224 people in Italy are fully vaccinated, which accounts îor 25.3 oh of the general population, and 44.804 received at least one vaccination dose. Thc prescnt study aim to investigate willingness to receive COVID-I9 vaccination in costumers accessing a sample of community pharmacies in the Province of Palermo, Italy. A self- administered and anon),rnous questionnaire was carried out among costumers older than 18 ycars old between Dcccmbcr 2020 atrd March 2021. Three hundred and sixty-three subjects were enrolled in the study, 259 (71.3%) expressed their willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccination. The main dctcrminants associated with vaccination acccptance resulted "trust in safety and eflectiveness ofvaccinations" and the absence of any previous negative vaccination experience. Unfavourable information on COVID-I9 vaccination obtained through intemelmedia/social media and lack ofconfidence in COVID-I9 vaccines and in the Italian national healthcare system are the main determinants associated with vaccine refusal. Male gender, younger age classes and influenza vaccination acceptance due to the impact of COVID pandemic were significantly associated with willingness to be vaccinated against COVID-Ì9. In order to promote COVID-I9 vaccination campaign accumte, infomrative and communicative campaigr dedicated to subjects that are more hesitant regarding COVID-I9 vaccination (e.g. female sex, adults, people that usually do not adhere to influenza vaccination campaign) should be implemented.