Socioeconomic and Demographic Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccination Attitudes and Uptake Among Residents of Western Attica, Greece: A Cohort Study

The COVID-19 pandemic posed a major public health challenge during its early stages, and vaccine distribution played a critical role in the initial response. This cohort study examines the socioeconomic and demographic factors influencing attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination in Western Attica, Greece. The data was collected in two phases: In the first phase (December 2021-January 2022), 269 people who had initially refused the vaccination were surveyed. By June 2022, 207 people had agreed to be vaccinated, while 62 people remained unvaccinated, with 48 people giving reasons for their refusal. Statistical analysis showed that higher income and higher education levels significantly increased acceptance of vaccination (p=0.003 for income; p=0.001 for education), while participants with chronic conditions were also more likely to be vaccinated (p=0.024). External factors such as government-imposed fines motivated 29.47% of participants, and 26.57% were influenced by personal experiences with COVID-19. These findings emphasise the need for targeted public health interventions to reduce vaccination hesitancy among lower socioeconomic groups and focus on vulnerable populations, particularly those with chronic health conditions. The study adds to the growing body of research on vaccine hesitancy and provides evidence for policy strategies to improve immunisation coverage in underserved populations.