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Examining drivers of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers

Part of: SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 February 2022

Mandy C. Swann Open the ORCID record for Mandy C. Swann [Opens in a new window] ,
Jesse Bendetson ,
Alexis Johnson ,
Maimuna Jatta Open the ORCID record for Maimuna Jatta [Opens in a new window] ,
Charles J. Schleupner  and
Anthony Baffoe-Bonnie Open the ORCID record for Anthony Baffoe-Bonnie [Opens in a new window]
Mandy C. Swann
Affiliation:
Infection Prevention and Control, Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, Virginia
Jesse Bendetson
Affiliation:
Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, Virginia
Alexis Johnson
Affiliation:
Infection Prevention and Control, Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, Virginia
Maimuna Jatta
Affiliation:
Infection Prevention and Control, Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, Virginia
Charles J. Schleupner
Affiliation:
Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, Virginia Infectious Diseases, Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, Virginia Department of Medicine, Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, Virginia
Anthony Baffoe-Bonnie*
Affiliation:
Infection Prevention and Control, Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, Virginia Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, Virginia Infectious Diseases, Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, Virginia Department of Medicine, Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, Virginia
*
Author for correspondence: Anthony Baffoe-Bonnie, E-mail: awbaffoebonnie@carilionclinic.org
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Abstract

Objective:

To assess characteristics and perceptions associated with vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers to increase coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine uptake in this population.

Design:

Cross-sectional quantitative survey.

Setting:

A not-for-profit healthcare system in southwestern Virginia.

Participants:

A convenience sample of 2,720 employees of a not-for-profit healthcare system.

Methods:

Between March 15 and 29, 2021, we conducted an Internet-based survey. Our questionnaire assessed sociodemographic and work-related characteristics, vaccine experience and intentions, agreement with vaccine-related perceptions, the most important reasons for getting or not getting vaccinated, and trusted sources of information about COVID-19. We used χ2 analyses to assess the relationship between vaccine hesitancy and both HCW characteristics and vaccine-related perceptions.

Results:

Overall, 18% of respondents were classified as vaccine hesitant. Characteristics significantly associated with hesitancy included Black race, younger age, not having a high-risk household member, and prior personal experience with COVID-19 illness. Vaccine hesitancy was also significantly associated with many vaccine-related perceptions, including concerns about short-term and long-term side effects and a belief that the vaccines are not effective. Among vaccine-acceptant participants, wanting to protect others and wanting to help end the pandemic were the most common reasons for getting vaccinated. Personal physicians were cited most frequently as trusted sources of information about COVID-19 among both vaccine-hesitant and vaccine-acceptant respondents.

Conclusions:

Educational interventions to decrease vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers should focus on alleviating safety concerns, emphasizing vaccine efficacy, and appealing to a sense of duty. Such interventions should target younger adult audiences. Personal physicians may also be an effective avenue for reducing hesitancy among their patients through patient-centered discussions.

Keywords

Vaccine hesitancyhealthcare workersCOVID-19 vaccines
Type
Original Article
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 43 , Issue 12 , December 2022 , pp. 1813 - 1821
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America

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