understanding covid-19 vaccine hesitancy among brazilian immigrants: prevalence, determinants, and global health implications

Background: vaccine hesitancy extends beyond simple refusal to receive immunizations, encompassing psychological, cultural, and sociodemographic factors that influence individuals’ perceptions and decision-making regarding vaccines. objectives: this study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors influencing covid-19 vaccine hesitancy among brazilian immigrants. methods: a survey targeting brazilian immigrants in portugal was conducted from may to august 2020, involving 598 participants. the study explored the relationship between vaccine hesitancy and non-compliance with social distancing measures using a poisson regression model with robust variance to calculate prevalence ratios (prs). results: the study identified a vaccine hesitancy rate of 15.1% among brazilian immigrants. older individuals (aged 50 and above) exhibited a significantly higher hesitancy, with an adjusted prevalence ratio (apr) of 10.0 (95% ci: 1.8 - 13.6). those adhering to a religion were 2.3 times more likely to hesitate (95% ci: 1.4 - 3.4), and a reluctance to follow social distancing measures was associated with a 10.4 times higher hesitancy rate (95% ci: 4.2 - 15.4). highlighting these correlations is vital for developing strategies to enhance vaccine acceptance and tackle public health challenges. conclusions: there is a notable rate of covid-19 vaccine hesitancy among brazilian immigrants in portugal, significantly influenced by age, religious practice, and non-adherence to social distancing measures. implementing targeted educational and awareness programs is recommended to reduce hesitancy and improve vaccine coverage within this community and in similar settings.