“Scary to get, more scary not to”: COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among healthcare workers in Central Queensland, Australia, a cross-sectional survey

Background Behavioural and social drivers (BeSD) of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine acceptance among Australian healthcare workers (HCW) living and working in regional areas are not well studied. Understanding local HCWs’ COVID-19 risk perceptions and potential barriers to COVID-19 vaccine uptake is crucial in supporting rollout. We aimed to understand the COVID-19 vaccine drivers among HCW in Central Queensland (CQ), Australia. Method A cross-sectional online survey of HCWs in CQ between 17 May and 31 May 2021, based on the BeSD framework adapted from the World Health Organization (WHO) Data for Action guidance, consisting of the five instrument domains: what people think and feel; social processes; motivations; practical issues; and vaccination uptake. Results Of the 240 responding HCWs within Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service, 78% were female. Of the participating HCWs, 64% percent had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine; of those who had not yet received a vaccine, 53% said they were willing to receive one. Factors associated with vaccine acceptance included: belief that the vaccine was important for their health (81%; odds ratio (OR): 7.2; 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.5–15.5); belief that their family and friends wanted them to have the vaccine (64%; OR: 6.7; 95% CI: 2.9–16.7); trust in the vaccine (72%; OR: 6.4; 95% CI: 3.5–12.0); and confidence in being able to answer patients’ questions about the vaccine (99%). Conclusions These findings suggest that a combination of communications and educational material framed around the benefits and social norms of vaccination, along with materials addressing vaccine safety concerns, will encourage HCW to take up a COVID-19 vaccine.