COVID-19 vaccination coverage and associated factors in seasonal fruit workers in Lleida.

Objectives: Seasonal fruit workers are a high-risk group for SARS-COV-2 infection. We aimed to estimate vaccination coverage and factors associated with vaccination in seasonal fruit workers.

Methods: We carried out an anonymous survey of seasonal fruit workers in the 2021 campaign in Baix Segria region and Lleida city (Spain) on vaccination, knowledge and attitudes about the COVID-19 vaccine. Univariate and bivariate descriptive analyses were performed comparing vaccinated non-vaccinated. Multivariate analysis was performed using to assess factors associated to vaccination uptake.

Results: We included 286 seasonal workers. The prevalence of confirmed COVID-19 background was 39.5% and overall vaccination coverage was 78.7%. Factors associated with vaccination were age (aOR = 0.96; 95% CI: 0.94-0.99), good knowledge of disease (aOR = 1.87; 95% CI : 1.01-3.47) and having a high-perceived vaccine effectiveness (aOR = 2.94; 95% CI : 1.50-5.73). High vaccination coverage in workers was associated to knowledge (OR = 3.69; 95% CI: 1.61-8.48), safe transport (OR = 2.84; 95% CI: 1.40-5.76) and appropriate housing (OR = 2.62; 95% CI: 1.25-5.46) as important non-pharmacological measures to reduced transmission.

Conclusion: The study confirms the high prevalence of COVID-19 history and moderate vaccination coverage in seasonal fruit workers. Health education programs to improve knowledge about COVID-19 and its vaccination can help improve vaccination uptake.