Suboptimal COVID-19 vaccine uptake among hospitalised patients.

We would like to share ideas on the publication ‘Suboptimal COVID‐19 vaccine uptake among hospitalised patients: an opportunity to improve vulnerable, hard‐to‐reach population vaccine rates’. Roberts et al. noted that ‘Vaccine uptake in our cohort is sub‐optimal. Existing public health programmes have failed to reach this high‐risk vulnerable population, … (use of) hospital encounters and target(ing) culturally and linguistically diverse individuals may improve uptake among this high‐risk, hard to reach group of patients’. We agree that the suboptimal COVID‐19 vaccine uptake is a common problem and it exists worldwide.

There are numerous elements that can influence one's attitude towards COVID‐19 immunisation. The basic aspect that can alter the ultimate COVID‐19 vaccination hesitation behaviour is knowledge, , according to the knowledge−attitude−practice model. According to certain studies, a lack of understanding is a significant factor in reluctance.

It is fascinating to learn about the subjects' understanding of COVID‐19 and immunisation in this study. The key confounding element that must be managed is subject knowledge, which may have a direct impact on the present report's observations. In our setting, poor knowledge of the local people is also common and ongoing health education to the local people is a basic response to this. Continuous monitoring of this knowledge is important and useful for adjustment of vaccination plans as the local COVID‐19 outbreak situation and vaccination response change.

Last, vaccine availability is also an issue that should be discussed, including the situation of availability of the vaccine in the study setting of Roberts et al. In our settings, in developing areas, vaccine is sometimes in insufficient supply and it is a factor that is associated with suboptimal uptake of COVID‐19 vaccine among the local population.