Andrea Gramegna*, Francesco Bindo, Andrea Costantino, Martina Contarini, Francesco Amati, Stefano Aliberti, Francesco Blasi
Background: Hesitancy to COVID-19 vaccination can be a major obstacle for the control of viral diffusion in individuals with frail conditions. This study was aimed to investigate intention to get vaccinated in a large cohort of adults with CF from a highly affected region in Northern Italy.
Methods: Adults with CF from a single center in Milan, Italy were enrolled from January, 25 to February, 15 2021, by a web-based survey investigating patient attitude towards COVID-19 vaccination.
Results: The rate of vaccine acceptance was 85% and most common reasons for hesitancy were safety issues (14.7%) and the speed of vaccine development (14.7%). Patients unwilling to be vaccinated were more likely to be older, with lower education and to believe that CF may impair vaccine efficacy or increase adverse events in comparison to those who would accept the vaccine.
Conclusions: Future research should aim at monitoring evolution of hesitancy in CF population and identify proper solutions.