Perceptions about the COVID-19 disease and the vaccination of those arriving at a vaccination center are correlated with medical public health services management

Abstract

Background: Perceptions of COVID-19 and vaccination depend on personal beliefs, experiences, and trust in health authorities’ information. Cultural and social factors also influence perceptions. Effective government messaging can minimize barriers to vaccination. Methodology: This cross-sectional research examines socio-demographic parameters related to risk factors, conducted using questionnaires at the vaccination center of Hippokrateio General Hospital of Athens, Greece (n=167), in the last quarter of 2022. Participants were asked to answer questions regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, a measurement tool for assessing good health status developed by the World Health Organization. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS v26. Results: The study found that women perceive vaccines to cause more harm than men, with younger individuals viewing the infection as harmless. Educational level also influences vaccine side effects and long-term harm. Perceptions of COVID-19 differ based on vaccination status. Conclusions: This research confirms the link between socio-demographic variables and pandemic severity perception, emphasizing the importance of correlated with medical public health services management in enhancing communication strategies and creating effective vaccination campaigns.