Background and Objectives:
The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has the vaccine as the best preventive measure. A lot of unscientific information about COVID-19 vaccines has been circulated, which can increase vaccine hesitancy (VH). This study assessed the associated factors with the VH of COVID-19, such as sociodemographic variables and anxiety disorder.

Methods:
In this cross-sectional community-based online survey with 1345 Brazilians aged 18 years and older. All Brazilian residents were able to participate in the study. The dependent variable was VH (the VH-COVID-19 tool was developed and validated based on the General Childhood Vaccination Hesitation Questionnaire from the United Nations Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization Working Group). The associated variables were sociodemographic variables (e.g., age, gender, health care professional, friend/family with COVID-19; risk group for COVID-19, has a religion, income, health status, use of Primary Care Unit and News on COVID-19 vaccine) and anxiety disorder (General Anxiety Disorder Scale).

Results:
The mean age of the participants was 35.02 years (SD=14.84), most were female (n=840; 62.5%), single (n=688; 51.2%), and 40.9% (n=544) were health care professionals. We identified that being older, being a health care professional, being in the COVID-19 risk group, more dissatisfied with their health, using controlled medications, and having more frequent access to news on COVID-19 vaccines were associated with higher VH. On the other hand, being female, having a friend or family member with COVID-19, not having a religion, having a lower family income, and using Primary Health Care in the last six months were associated with lower levels of VH. Higher levels of anxiety disorder were associated with lower levels of VH.

Conclusion:
We identified modifiable and non-modifiable factors associated with COVID-19 VH during the heart of the first wave in Brazil. The dissemination of misinformation is one of the main factors.