COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and acceptance in patients with multiple myeloma: A national multicenter survey in China

Abstract

Objective: To investigate factors influencing vaccine hesitancy and its effects on SARS-CoV-2 infection in multiple myeloma (MM) patients during the Omicron BA.4/5 subvariant outbreak.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in mainland China from December 26, 2022, to April 20, 2023. An expert-developed anonymous online questionnaire was distributed via WeChat mini-program to several groups of 500 MM patients, each comprising of 500 patients. The questionnaire covered demographic characteristics, MM medical attributes, COVID-19 vaccine status, and clinical manifestations of COVID-19. Data were analyzed to assess the impact of vaccination on COVID-19 infection rates and the disease severity among MM patients.

Results: Among 508 valid responses from 30 provinces, only 34.1% (n=173) of MM patients reported receiving COVID-19 vaccination, and the proportions were lower among patients who had undergone autologous stem cell transplantation (20.2% vs. 48.4%, P<0.001). Vaccine hesitancy was primarily attributed to physician recommendations (52.0%), conflicts with MM treatment (37.8%), and concerns about MM progression (31.3%). Hospitalization due to severe SARS-CoV-2 infections was significantly reduced in the vaccinated group (4.8% vs. 12.3%, P=0.038).

Conclusions: The lower infection rate in MM patients may be attributed to stringent quarantine measures and self-imposed social restrictions. While vaccination did not directly correlate with fewer SARS-CoV-2 infections, it did afford protection to vulnerable populations. Clinicians are encouraged to recommend vaccines to MM patients to mitigate severe infections and associated mortality during recurrent COVID-19 waves.

Keywords

Questionnaire / Multiple myeloma / Vaccination / SARS-CoV-2 / Outbreak infection

Conflict of interest statement

The authors disclosed no potential conflict of interest.

Funding

This study was funded by the Capital Health Development Scientific Research Fund (Grant No. 2022-2-4013), and National High-Level Hospital Clinical Research Funding (2022-PUMCH-B-048).

Data availability statement

Data are available upon request from the corresponding author.

Authors’ contributions

Zhuang JL, Chen WM, Li YZ, Sun WL, Hua BL contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by He HW, Jin XH, Li ZP. Liu SJ was responsible for patients’ follow-ups. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Jin XH and He HW. Zhuang JL critically revised the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Publisher’s note

The Publisher of the Journal remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Editde by Lei Y, Zhang Q, Pan Y

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