Factors Influencing Mpox Vaccines Acceptance Among Healthcare Workers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

The sporadic mpox disease outbreak in Africa poses a global public health challenge. Although vaccines have been developed to combat the disease, its acceptance among healthcare workers (HCWs) varies across nations. This study aims to estimate the pooled mpox vaccine acceptance among HCWs and its associated factors. Databases and JBI appraisal checklist were used to include 21 studies. Heterogeneity and publication bias were checked with the I2test and funnel plot, respectively. The DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model was used to estimate mpox vaccine acceptance among HCWs. The Eggers and Beggs test was computed to see if there is small study effect. This review included 21 studies with 13,969 participants. The overall pooled prevalence of HCWs’ mpox vaccines acceptance was 53.43% (95% CI [41.67, 65.19]). The HCWs with vaccine eagerness (OR: 4.78 [2.35, 7.21]), previous COVID-19 infections (OR: 1.47 [1.24, 1.69]), public health risk concern about mpox disease (OR: 3.57 [1.68, 5.46]), and good knowledge scores (OR: 2.04 [1.67, 2.41]) had higher odds of willing to receive mpox vaccines. However, HCWs who did not apply tighter infection prevention and control measures had reduced odds of mpox vaccine acceptance (OR: 0.59 [0.30, 0.87]). The acceptance of mpox vaccine among HCWs was still low worldwide. Therefore, national health ministries and global actors should prioritize the factors identified in this study, including providing training and enforcing crucial vaccine intervention strategies among high-risk groups.