Level of Awareness on Covid-19 Vaccine Administration Among Health Care Professionals as Determinants to Safe Vaccine Administration in the Integrated Provincial Health Office and City Health Office Marawi City

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the level of awareness of the nurses' vaccinators in administering a safe COVID-19 vaccine in the Integrated Provincial Health Office and the City Health Office. Specifically, it has the following objectives: (1) Analyze the professional profile of the respondents in terms of their sex, highest educational attainment, pieces of training and seminars on vaccination attended, and number of years in service; (2) Respondent's awareness on COVID-19 Pre-Vaccination in terms of vaccines, potency, temperature, storage, sustainability of electric power, vaccine transport, dosage, preparations and route and site; (3) Respondent's awareness on COVID-19 Vaccination in terms of Post-Vaccination Monitoring and Surveillance; (4) Significant relationship between the respondent's professional profile and the level of awareness of health care professionals in pre-vaccination; and (5) Significant relationship between the respondent's professional profile and the level of awareness of health care professionals in post-vaccination monitoring and surveillance. The study revealed that the majority of the respondents were female college degree holders. Also, the majority of the respondents have attended 1 – 3 pieces of training and seminars on vaccination and were in the service for more than 4 years and 1 month. This implies that most of the nurses in the Integrated Provincial Health Office and City Health Office were female and are graduates with a nursing degree. In addition, most of the nurses in the Integrated Provincial Health Office and City Health Office have a long-term experience as a nurse and have attended various pieces of training and seminars on vaccination, which qualifies them to be nurse vaccinators. Moreover, results showed that the respondents were fully aware of the different determinants of safe vaccine administration. These determinants are the following: vaccine, potency, temperature, storage, sustainability of electric power, vaccine transport, dosage, preparations, and route and site. Thus, they are knowledgeable of the guidelines and procedures for handling and administering the COVID-19 vaccines to the patient to avoid causing them harm and ensure their safety. Further, nurse vaccinators are also fully aware of the vaccine administration in terms of post-vaccination monitoring and surveillance. Thus, they can monitor the patient's health and safety after being administered the COVID-19 vaccine. With the result of the study, the researchers hereby conclude that there is no significant relationship between the respondent's sex, the highest educational attainment, the number of training attended and the number of years in service, and the determinants of safe COVID-19 vaccine administration. Thus, determinants of safe COVID-19 vaccine administration are not based on the nurses' demographic profile. Also, it has been observed that there is a significant relationship between the level of awareness among nurses on COVID-19 pre-vaccination and the determinants of safe COVID-19 vaccine administration. It further implies that the determinants of safe COVID-19 vaccine administration have a positive impact on the level of awareness in pre-vaccination among nurses. Lastly, there is a significant relationship between the level of awareness among nurses on COVID-19 vaccination in terms of post-vaccination monitoring and surveillance, and the determinants of safe COVID-19 vaccine administration. Therefore, the determinants of safe COVID-19 vaccine administration also have a positive impact on the level of awareness of COVID-19 vaccination in terms of post-vaccination among nurses. According to the demographics of those who answered the survey questions, it is significant that the vast majority of them are female and hold a college diploma. These are reliable statistics because female nurses outnumber male nurses in the Philippines, resulting in a female-dominated workforce. They are also eligible to become nurse vaccinators because the vast majority of respondents have been in the service for more than four years and have participated in at least one training or seminar. Nurse vaccinators in Lanao del Sur are generally knowledgeable about vaccine administration. Also, it can be finally concluded that nurse vaccinators in Lanao del Sur are fully conversant with the safe administration of vaccines, from the pre-vaccination period to the post-vaccination monitoring and surveillance period. Nurse vaccinators must be fully informed about these issues to avoid causing harm to patients during vaccinations.