COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance among an Online Sample of Sexual and Gender Minority Men and Transgender Women.

Daniel Teixeira Da Silva,Willey Y Lin,Pablo K Valente,José A Bauermeister,Kenneth H Mayer,Katie Biello,Lisa Hightow-Weidman

doi:10.3390/vaccines9030204

Abstract

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations are particularly vulnerable to poor COVID-19 outcomes and are more likely to experience stigma and medical mistrust that may impact COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. This study examined the prevalence of COVID testing and diagnosis and assessed COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among a large sample of SGM. Participants were recruited as part of an online cross-sectional study focused on an HIV biomedical prevention technology willingness in the United States at increased risk for HIV sero-conversion. Multivariate linear analysis was conducted to examine COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. The study sample included 1350 predominately gay (61.6%), Black (57.9%), cis-gender (95.7%) males with a mean age of 32.9 years. Medical mistrust and social concern regarding COVID-19 vaccine stigma were significantly associated with decreased COVID-19 vaccine acceptance, and altruism was significantly associated with increased vaccine acceptance. Black participants were significantly less likely to accept a COVID-19 vaccine, and Asian participants were significantly more likely to accept a vaccine, compared to White peers. As the planning of COVID-19 vaccine rollout efforts is conceptualized and designed, these data may inform equitable implementation strategies and prevent worsening health inequities among SGM populations.

Highlights

Equitable implementation of COVID-19 vaccine delivery is a national and global priority
Sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations are disproportionately vulnerable to poor COVID-19 outcomes, yet little is known about COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among
As hypothesized, increased medical mistrust and social concerns were significantly associated with lower rates of vaccine acceptance, and altruism was associated with higher rates of vaccine acceptance

Summary

Introduction

Equitable implementation of COVID-19 vaccine delivery is a national and global priority. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice highlighted allocation strategies that “aim to reduce existing disparities and to not create new disparities” [1]. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine published a framework for equitable allocation of COVID-19 vaccine that recognizes the rights and interests of sexual and gender minorities (SGM) but fails to identify strategies or data to achieve that goal [2]. Attitudes about COVID-19 vaccine acceptance can inform planning and implementation, and have been correlated with age, education, race, and employment status [3,4,5,6]. Analyses have predominantly focused on cis-gender heteronormative populations, limiting their generalizability to SGM populations. Given that stigma and discrimination drive health inequities among SGM, 4.0/)

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion