Abstract
BackgroundUptake of the COVID-19 vaccine among US young adults, particularly those that belong to racial and ethnic minorities, remains low compared to their older peers. Understanding vaccine perceptions and their influence on vaccination uptake among this population remains crucial to achieving population herd immunity.ObjectiveWe sought to study perceptions of COVID-19 vaccines as well as intended and actual vaccine uptake among one population of college students, faculty, and staff.MethodsAs part of a larger study aimed at investigating the dynamics of COVID-19 transmission, serology, and perception on a college campus, participants were asked about their views on the COVID-19 vaccine in February 2021. Vaccination status was assessed by self-report in April 2021. Logistic regression was used to calculate prevalence ratios with marginal standardization.ResultsWe found that non-White participants were 25% less likely to report COVID-19 vaccination compared to White participants. Among those who were unvaccinated, Black and other non-White participants were significantly more likely to indicate they were unwilling to receive a COVID-19 vaccine compared to White participants. The most common reason for unwillingness to receive the vaccine was belief that the vaccine approval process was rushed.ConclusionsThere are racial differences in perceptions of the COVID-19 vaccine among young adults, and these differences might differentially impact vaccine uptake among young racial and ethnic minorities. Efforts to increase vaccine uptake among college populations might require campaigns specifically tailored to these minority groups.
Highlights
Since its first reported case in the United States in January 2020, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused over 4 million deaths globally, and has severely disrupted global economies, educational and workplace practices, social gatherings, and daily behaviors [1]
We describe results of behavioral and perception surveys administered as part of a longitudinal cohort study of students, faculty, and staff at a small liberal arts college located in Milton, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston
Eligibility criteria were as follows: aged ≥18 years, ability to read and understand English without assistance, being a member of the Curry College residential community during the Spring 2021 semester (February-May 2021); completing at least part of their instruction or job in-person on the Curry College campus in Milton, Massachusetts; intention to remain in the vicinity of Curry College for the entire study period, willingness to comply with Curry College COVID-19 weekly screening requirements, willingness to answer biweekly study surveys electronically sent via email, willingness to participant in venipuncture for blood sample collection, and having no bleeding disorder preventing the use of venipuncture
Summary
Since its first reported case in the United States in January 2020, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused over 4 million deaths globally, and has severely disrupted global economies, educational and workplace practices, social gatherings, and daily behaviors [1]. Several studies have found sociodemographic differences in vaccine hesitancy across the population, with significantly higher rates of vaccine hesitancy among those who are non-White compared to Whites and those without a 4-year advanced degree compared to those with a 4-year advanced degree [5]. Many attribute this concentration of hesitancy among non-White groups, among Black Americans, to centuries of structural and medical racism that have resulted in unequal treatment of minority populations in the American health care system [6]. Understanding vaccine perceptions and their influence on vaccination uptake among this population remains crucial to achieving population herd immunity
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