S829 Racial Disparities in COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance Are Not Present Among IBD Patients at an Urban Tertiary Care Practice

Abstract

Introduction: Vaccine hesitancy among minorities remains a prevalent phenomenon stemming from several factors including underrepresentation in vaccine trials, systemic discrimination, historical racial injustices, and limited targeted education. Furthermore, it is well-established that COVID-19 infection disproportionately impacts minority patients. In this study, we sought to evaluate disparities in COVID-19 vaccine intention among a diverse urban population in effort to promote equitable, optimal care for our inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patient cohort. Methods: A retrospective chart review of electronic medical records was conducted of all IBD patients seen from 1/1/2016 to 1/31/2021 by gastroenterologists at an urban university medical center. Patient gender, age, race, IBD subtype, and treatment regimen information were obtained. Phone-based surveys were conducted to determine patients’ intention to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Patients were excluded if unable to contact or there was missing demographic data. A confidential database was created using Microsoft Excel Fischer exact tests were used with statistical significance set at p< 0.05. This study was approved by the university IRB. Results: 218 of 458 (47.6%) medical records were reviewed. 123 (56.4%) identified as White, 75 (34.4%) as Black, and 20 (9.2%) as Asian, Hispanic, or other. 195 (89.4%) received or intended to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. 112 (57.4%) Whites, 66 (33.8%) Blacks, and 17 (8.7%) Asian, Hispanics or other racial identity received or intended to receive COVID-19 vaccine. There was no significant difference (p=0.630) in vaccine intention in IBD patients based upon race. Conclusion: While the literature indicates several stark racial differences in COVID-19 vaccine perceptions, this study did not reveal any disparities in vaccine receipt nor intention among our diverse, urban IBD patient cohort. Our findings contradict the accepted concept that minority patients, particularly Black patients, tend to reject COVID-19 vaccination. It is possible that regardless of race, patients with chronic immune dysregulation, as in IBD, are more accepting of vaccination as a protective measure. However, these results emphasize the need to identify factors that encourage vaccination practices to guide development of interventions that increase widespread vaccine acceptance.