Longitudinal Assessment of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccine Acceptance and Uptake Among Frontline Medical Workers in Los Angeles, California. (22nd July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Halbrook, Megan; Gadoth, Adva; Martin-Blais, Rachel; Gray, Ashley N; Kashani, Saman; Kazan, Clayton; Kane, Brian; Tobin, Nicole H; Ferbas, Kathie G; Aldrovandi, Grace M; Rimoin, Anne W
• Is Part Of: Clinical infectious diseases. Volume 74:Number 7(2022)
• Page Start: 1166
• Page End: 1173
• Publication Date: 2021-07-22
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- vaccines -- vaccine hesitancy -- healthcare workers -- first responders; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; 616.905
• DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciab614
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1058-4838

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Sentiments of vaccine hesitancy and distrust in public health institutions have complicated the government-led coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine control strategy in the United States. As the first to receive the vaccine, COVID-19 vaccine attitudes among frontline workers are consequential for COVID-19 control and public opinion of the vaccine. Methods: In this study, we used a repeated cross-sectional survey administered at 3 time points between 24 September 2020 and 6 February 2021 to a cohort of employees of the University of California, Los Angeles Health and the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The primary outcome of interest was COVID-19 vaccination intent and vaccine uptake. Results: Confidence in COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine uptake rose significantly over time. At survey 1, confidence in vaccine protection was 46.4% among healthcare workers (HCWs) and 34.6% among first responders (FRs); by survey 3, this had risen to 90.0% and 75.7%, respectively. At survey 1, about one-third of participants intended to receive a vaccine as soon as possible. By survey 3, 96.0% of HCWs and 87.5% of FRs had received a COVID-19 vaccine. Conclusions: Attitudes toward vaccine uptake increased over the study period, likely a result of increased public confidence in COVID-19 vaccines, targeted communications, a COVID-19 winter surge in Los Angeles County, and ease of access from employer-sponsored vaccine distribution. Abstract : Trust in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines increased markedly over the fall of 2020, primarily owing to increased vaccine communications, and reduced barriers to vaccination through employer-sponsored vaccine distribution. Despite this, certain groups still maintain hesitancies toward COVID-19 vaccines.