Poster Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2022

COVID-19 vaccine uptake and hesitancy amongst Australian patients with breast cancer. (#403)

Jo Hudson 1 , Amelia McCartney 1 2 , Alastair Kwok 1 2 , Lisa Grech 2 , Annette Tognela 3 , Louise Nott 4 , Rossa King 4 , Mike Nguyen 1 2 , Nathan Bain 1 , Bryan Chan 5 6 , Samuel Harris 7 , Hieu Chau 8 , Nada Hamad 9 10 11 , Craig Underhill 12 13 , Janne Williams 14 , Kate Webber 1 2 , Daphne Day 1 2 , Eva Segelov 1 2
  1. Department of Oncology, Monash Health, Clayton, VIC, Australia
  2. Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
  3. Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre, Campbelltown Hospital, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
  4. Icon Cancer Centre Hobart, Hobart, TAS, Australia
  5. Department of Oncology, Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service, Birtinya, QLD, Australia
  6. School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Birtinya, QLD, Australia
  7. Department of Medical Oncology, Bendigo Health, Bendigo, VIC, Australia
  8. Department of Oncology, Latrobe Regional Hospital, Traralgon, VIC, Australia
  9. Department of Haematology, St Vincent's Hospital Sydney, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia
  10. School of Clinical Medicine, Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, Australia
  11. School of Medicine, University of Notre Dame Australia, Chippendale, NSW, Australia
  12. Border Medical Oncology, Albury, NSW, Australia
  13. Rural Medical School, University of New South Wales, Albury, NSW, Australia
  14. Southern Melbourne Integrated Cancer Service, East Bentleigh, VIC, Australia

Aims

Vaccination uptake is the principal focus of the world-wide response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccine hesitancy remains a critical issue. Our aim was to ascertain rates and reasons for vaccine hesitancy in people with breast cancer (BC) in Australia.

 

Methods

Between June and October 2021, an anonymous online survey was conducted among people with solid organ cancer treated at nine Australian treatment centres. Data collected included demographics and clinical characteristics. Vaccine hesitancy and related beliefs were assessed using the Oxford COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Scale, the Oxford COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence and Complacency Scale (OCVCCS), and the Disease Influenced Vaccine Acceptance Scale-Six. Descriptive statistics, chi-squared and linear regression were used. Results for the BC subgroup are reported.

 

Results

The BC subgroup (N=986, mean age 58.4 years, 99% female) comprised 36.6% of the responses in the solid cancer population (N=2691). Most (76%) were treated at metropolitan centres and 64% were receiving ongoing treatment. Early BC was more commonly reported than metastatic BC (77% vs. 23%). Overall, 82% self-reported at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose. Unvaccinated participants were more likely to diagnosed with BC for a shorter time (<2 years (22.1%) vs ≥2 years (14.5%), p=0.003). Participants with metastatic BC were more likely to be unvaccinated and report greater disease-related vaccine concerns and hesitancy, when compared with participants with early BC (all p<0.05). When compared with participants with all other solid cancers, participants with BC reported more negative attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccine side-effects (OCVCCS Side-Effects subscale mean scores: 5.19 (SD 1.91) vs. 5.46 (SD 1.82), p<0.001).

 

Conclusions

Despite a relatively high rate of self-reported vaccination, people with BC reported lower vaccine confidence when compared with all other solid cancers. A better understanding of these inequalities, and strategies to address vaccine confidence in people with BC, particularly those with metastatic BC, should be developed.