Investigating Knowledge toward COVID-19 Vaccination: A Cross-sectional Survey in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

ABSTRACT

AIM: Since there were pros and cons, and insufficient knowledge among Indonesian regarding the vaccines, this research aims to investigate the knowledge regarding COVID-19 vaccination among employees who work in an Islamic University in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional design was used to investigate the people’s knowledge of COVID-19 vaccination. The survey was conducted before the first vaccination of COVID-19 in March 2021. A descriptive analysis method was performed. Seven hundred sixty-two respondents completed the questionnaire. RESULTS: Respondent’s average age was 34.61 years old (standard deviation = 11.821, range 20–64), 54.1% of female and 45.9% of male. 448 (58.8%) respondents did not have any comorbid history. Respondents mostly obtained vaccination information through social media (86.25%). Most respondents had sufficient knowledge about the COVID-19 vaccine (83.2%), particularly those aged 20–29. For side effects, 585 (76.8%) respondents answered that they experienced pain in the injection area after getting the COVID-19 vaccination. This study showed that the respondents aged 20–29 years old had sufficient knowledge regarding COVID-19 vaccination. CONCLUSION: As knowledge plays an essential role in accepting vaccinations, health-care workers’ efforts to promote COVID-19 vaccination should be directed toward the middle-aged and elderly population to support the government’s plan to increase the rate of COVID-19 vaccinations in Indonesia.