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ABSTRACT
Individuals with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) are more susceptible to experiencing severe complications of COVID-19 if infected. Nevertheless, sub-optimal immunization rates have been reported among these patients. Our study aims to assess COVID-19 VH among a global population of patients with IBD and to investigate the role of healthcare professionals, particularly gastroenterologists, in promoting immunization. Twenty-six studies were systematically selected from scientific articles in the MEDLINE/PubMed, WoK, and Scopus databases from January 1, 2020, to September 15, 2023. The pooled prevalence of COVID-19 VH was 27.2% (95%CI = 20.6–34.2%). A significant relationship was evidenced between COVID-19 vaccine compliance and receiving advice from gastroenterologists or healthcare providers (OR = 2.77; 95%CI = 1.79–4.30). By leveraging their knowledge of IBD, familiarity with patient histories, and trusted patient-doctor relationships, gastroenterologists are pivotal in promoting vaccination. This patient-centered care is crucial in increasing vaccine acceptance among individuals with IBD, contributing to better public health outcomes.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Abbreviations
| IBD | = | Inflammatory Bowel Disease |
| CDC | = | Center for Disease Control and Prevention |
| WHO | = | World Health Organization |
| VH | = | Vaccine Hesitancy |