AUTHOR=Zigron Asaf , Dror Amiel A. , Morozov Nicole G. , Shani Tali , Haj Khalil Tharwat , Eisenbach Netanel , Rayan Doaa , Daoud Amani , Kablan Fares , Marei Hesham , Sela Eyal , Srouji Samer TITLE=COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance Among Dental Professionals Based on Employment Status During the Pandemic JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine VOLUME=8 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2021.618403 DOI=10.3389/fmed.2021.618403 ISSN=2296-858X ABSTRACT=

The COVID-19 pandemic spread rapidly across the globe, leading governments to impose prolonged lockdowns on both movement and commerce. Although lockdowns decrease the rates of novel infections, they can have devastating consequences on the economy and employment levels. One of the most severely affected sectors during this crisis has been dental medicine. Dental professionals are uniquely exposed to environments with high levels of occupational hazards, conferring additional risks of viral exposure and transmission. We analyzed 506 anonymous questionnaires completed by dentists and residents regarding acceptance of a future potential SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Our results demonstrate a statistically significant correlation between the individual's unemployment rate and their willingness to inoculate with a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine when it becomes available. This information can be used to predict trends of vaccine acceptance or rejection based on economic burden during the COVID-19 pandemic by different sectors as part of the preparedness toward global vaccination programs.