KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE ABOUT COVID-19 VACCINES AND THEIR BOOSTERS AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS (HCWS) AT SECONDARY AND TERTIARY CARE HOSPITALS IN KARACHI, PAKISTAN
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71000/557m7869Keywords:
Attitude of Health Personnel; COVID-19 Vaccines; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Personnel; Immunization, Secondary; Pakistan; Vaccination Hesitancy.Abstract
Background: Healthcare workers remained central to COVID-19 prevention and vaccination programmes, yet their confidence in vaccines was affected by changing recommendations, safety concerns, misinformation, and uncertainty regarding booster doses. Understanding their knowledge and attitudes was important because their vaccination decisions influenced personal protection, workplace safety, patient counselling, and wider public confidence. Evidence from Pakistani healthcare settings remained locally limited, particularly regarding booster-related knowledge and healthcare workers’ willingness to receive or recommend additional vaccine doses to others.
Objective: To assess knowledge and attitudes regarding COVID-19 vaccines and booster doses among healthcare workers in secondary and tertiary care hospitals in Karachi.
Methods: This multicentre cross-sectional study included 379 healthcare workers recruited through convenience sampling from three hospitals. A structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire assessed participant characteristics, vaccination status, vaccine and booster knowledge, and booster attitudes. Scores were classified using modified Bloom’s cut-offs. Descriptive analysis was performed using SPSS version 21.0.
Results: The mean age was 28.42 ± 7.50 years, and 62.0% were female. Overall, 90.5% were fully vaccinated, 84.2% had received a booster, and 47.2% reported previous COVID-19 infection. Knowledge of primary vaccines was high in 38.5%, moderate in 36.1%, and low in 25.3%; the mean score was 6.60 ± 1.87. Booster knowledge was high in 18.5%, moderate in 40.1%, and low in 41.4%, with a mean score of 5.75 ± 1.91. Positive, neutral, and negative booster attitudes were recorded in 50.9%, 19.3%, and 29.8%, respectively. Booster vaccination was recommended to patients by 85.5%, while 64.1% were willing to receive an additional dose.
Conclusion: Vaccination uptake was high, but booster-specific knowledge remained limited. Regular evidence-based education and clear institutional communication may strengthen informed confidence and healthcare workers’ contribution to vaccine advocacy.
Keywords: Attitude of Health Personnel; COVID-19 Vaccines; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Personnel; Immunization, Secondary; Pakistan; Vaccination Hesitancy.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Dr Saira Rehman, Dr Farah Qamar Naz, Dr Ibtisam Qazi (Author)
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