COVID-19 Vaccination Concerns and Reasons for Acceptance Among US Health Care Personnel. (November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Oberleitner, Lindsay M.S.; Lucia, Victoria C.; Navin, Mark C.; Ozdych, Melissa; M. Afonso, Nelia; Kennedy, Richard H.; Keil, Hans; Wu, Lawrence; Mathew, Trini A.
• Is Part Of: Public health reports. Volume 137:Number 6(2022)
• Page Start: 1227
• Page End: 1234
• Publication Date: 2022-11
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- vaccination -- health behavior -- attitudes; Public health -- United States -- Periodicals; 614.0973
• DOI: 10.1177/00333549221120590
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0033-3549

Abstract

Objectives: Because health care personnel (HCP) are potentially at increased risk of contracting COVID-19, high vaccination rates in this population are essential. The objective of this study was to assess vaccination status, barriers to vaccination, reasons for vaccine acceptance, and concerns about COVID-19 vaccination among HCP. Methods: We conducted an anonymous online survey at a large US health care system from April 9 through May 4, 2021, to assess COVID-19 vaccination status and endorsement of reasons for acceptance and concerns related to vaccination (based on selections from a provided list). Results: A total of 4603 HCP (12.2% response rate) completed the survey, 3947 (85.7%) had received at least 1 dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at the time of the survey, and 550 (11.9%) reported no plans to receive the vaccine. Unvaccinated HCP were 30 times more likely than vaccinated HCP to endorse religious or personal beliefs as a vaccine concern (odds ratio = 30.95; 95% CI, 21.06-45.48) and 15 times more likely to believe that personal vaccination is not needed if enough others are vaccinated (odds ratio = 14.99; 95% CI, 10.84-20.72). The more reasons endorsed for vaccination (ß = 0.60; P < .001), the higher the likelihood of having received the vaccine. However, the number of concerns about COVID-19 vaccine was not related to vaccination status (ß = 1.01; P = .64). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that reasons for vaccination acceptance and concerns about vaccination need to be considered to better understand behavioral choices related to COVID-19 vaccination among HCP, because these beliefs may affect vaccination advocacy, responses to vaccine mandates, and promotion of COVID-19 vaccine boosters.