Approach of Pregnant Women from Poland and the Ukraine to COVID-19 Vaccination-The Role of Medical Consultation.

ABSTRACT

There are many arguments for the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy. The aim of this study is to describe the level of vaccination acceptance, to find the factors that most influence the decision to vaccinate, and to describe the scale of changes in vaccination acceptance influenced by medical information on the safety, efficacy, and benefits of vaccination among pregnant women. A total of 300 patients completed the questionnaire, including 150 in Poland and 150 in the Ukraine. The level of vaccination acceptance was assessed before and after medical consultation. There were 53 (35.3%) patients with the intention to get vaccinated in Poland and 25 (16.7%) in the Ukraine. After consultation with a physician, this increased to 109 (72.6%) in Poland and 69 (46%) in the Ukraine. The main factors influencing the acceptance of vaccinations were the fear of harming the foetus (OR-0.119, CI-0.039-0.324 p < 0.001), complications in pregnancy (OR-0.073 CI-0.023-0.197 p < 0.001), and limitations in the vaccination programme (OR-0.026 CI-0.001-0.207 p < 0.001). Medical information about the safety, effectiveness and benefits of vaccinations among pregnant women, provided during a medical visit, may increase the acceptance of vaccinations by 105.6%, as among Polish patients, and by 176%, as among pregnant women from the Ukraine.