Reasons For Vaccine Hesitancy Research Articles

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in a Rural Community of Nigeria

Introduction: Vaccine hesitancy is a major challenge to public health, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This research was aimed at examining COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the Idumebo Community, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria, to understand the factors influencing vaccine acceptance and refusal. Objective: The primary objective of this research was to determine the level of knowledge, uptake, and reasons for vaccine hesitancy among residents of Idumebo, Irrua Edo State. By exploring these factors, the study aimed to provide insights that can inform targeted interventions to improve vaccine acceptance rates in the community. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done among residents of age 18-60 years in Idumebo, utilizing structured questionnaires to gather data on socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of COVID-19, and attitudes towards vaccination. Ethical considerations were prioritized, with institutional and community consent obtained before data collection. Results: The findings showed a high degree of awareness of COVID-19 among participants, with a majority acknowledging the contagious nature of the disease. However, vaccine hesitancy was observed among a subset of respondents, with reasons ranging from concerns about safety and efficacy to misinformation and mistrust. These results underscore the need for targeted educational campaigns and community engagement to address vaccine hesitancy effectively. Conclusion: It was concluded that the study brought to light the complex dynamics of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the Idumebo Community, revealing the necessity of tailored interventions to address barriers to vaccine acceptance. By fostering a better understanding of community attitudes and concerns, public health authorities can develop strategies to enhance vaccine uptake and combat the spread of COVID-19 in the region.

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Associated Factors among Adults and Adolescents Attending COVID-19 Vaccination Centre of South India-A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Challenges related to the acceptance and refusal of COVID-19 vaccination (vaccine hesitancy)emerged as a significant problem worldwide.Objectives: 1. To study socio-demographic profile of the study participants.2.To assess association betweensociodemographic characteristics and vaccine hesitancy among study participants.3. To find out the reasons for vaccination hesitancy among study participants.Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted at COVID-19 vaccination centre, in South India. Studyparticipants included were subjects who were due for COVID-19 vaccine. Total sample size was 385.Data wascollected by interview technique.Results: Majority,311(80.8%) of the respondents were urban residents and were in 18-30 age group. Malerespondents were higher 227, (59.0%) than female,158(41.0%). Regarding reasons for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, majority, 107 (27.8%) reported they were unaware of vaccination schedule followed by 97 (25.2%) not getting time to go for vaccination and 49 (12.7%) respondents reported fear of side effects of COVID-19 vaccine. We found statistically significant association between COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and socio-demographic variables like their residence, age, gender, type of family, educational level, marital status and co-morbidity. Conclusion: Regardless of the source of vaccine hesitancy, interventions to encourage vaccination by simplifying messages and emphasizing benefits can be effective.

Exploring SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Acceptance in Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe

Background & Aims. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused millions of deaths worldwide, making the uptake of effective vaccines critical to saving lives. In Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe, both supply- and demand-side challenges have made high rates of vaccination difficult to achieve. The current study seeks to describe vaccination rates and reasons for vaccine hesitancy in both Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe. 
 Methods. The current study uses data that came from a cross sectional survey that was conducted face to face in Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe. This study uses frequency statistics, chi-square test statistics, and multivariate regression analysis to describe and explore differences between the two countries. The Health Belief Model was used as a framework for sorting and understanding findings.
 Results and Conclusions. This study reveals that vaccine uptake was much lower in Sierra Leone than in Zimbabwe. Zimbabweans were almost twice as likely as Sierra Leoneans to be vaccinated while Sierra Leoneans were significantly more likely to believe the vaccine was risky. Individuals who were older, from Zimbabwe, and were healthcare workers or community leaders were more likely to be vaccinated. Those who were from Zimbabwe, had secondary or tertiary education, and were community leaders were more likely to be concerned about catching COVID-19 than community members. Faith leaders were less likely to be concerned about catching COVID-19 in public. These findings add to our understanding of attitudes that lead to vaccine hesitancy and uptake.

Vaccine Hesitancy Against COVID-19 Vaccines in Patients with Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases and Effect of Specialist Counselling on Vaccine-hesitant Patients

Objectives: To assess causes of vaccine hesitancy to COVID-19 vaccines in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRD). Methods: Study design: We conducted a cross-sectional observational survey-based study of patients attending Rheumatology OPD regarding the reason for vaccine hesitancy, counselled by treating rheumatologists and responses regarding willingness recorded after counselling. Convenience sampling was done by including all adults (>18 years) with AIRD attending rheumatology OPD. Those vaccinated, recently infected (within six weeks), and non-AIRD patients were excluded. The questionnaire included details about patients’ demography, medication and reason for vaccine hesitancy. Statistical analysis was performed using measures of central tendency for quantitative variables and using counts and percentages for qualitative variables. Results: A total of 322 patients participated in the study with a mean age of 40 years (18–76), with 73% (234) females and 27% (88) males. Most patients had RA (40%) followed by SpA (27%), SLE (13%) and were on immunosuppressive medications (95%). A significant proportion of patients (60%) had more than one reason for vaccine hesitancy. Almost 60% of the respondents feared disease flare post-vaccination, while almost half (44.4%) feared vaccine side effects and more than one-third (35%) doubted vaccine efficacy while on immunosuppressive medications. Other causes were the inability to get vaccinated (18%), doubts about vaccine efficacy (15%), and fear of injections (10%). Most patients (91%) expressed vaccine acceptance after specialist counselling. Conclusions: Vaccine hesitancy is multifactorial. Addressing reasons for vaccine hesitancy in patients with AIRD like fear of flare of disease post-vaccination, fear of vaccine side effects and doubts over vaccine efficacy while taking immunosuppressive medications are necessary. Most patients were willing to take vaccine after counselling by a rheumatologist.

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy by Smoking Status Among Ohio Adults

Background: Research in other countries and limited findings in the United States suggest that adults who smoke are less likely to get COVID-19 vaccines. The objective of this study was to examine vaccine hesitancy by smoking status in Ohio.Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of multiple 8-week waves of the Ohio COVID-19 Survey (OCS) from March 2021 to July 2022. The OCS participants comprised a subsample from the 2019 Ohio Medicaid Assessment Survey, a statewide health survey. After the COVID-19 vaccine was available, participants were asked about vaccination status and, among those not vaccinated, vaccine intentions. To compare vaccine hesitancy by smoking status, multivariable survey-weighted logistic regression models were fit, adjusted for potential confounders. Reason for vaccine hesitancy was asked using an open-ended question; data were coded and analyzed descriptively.Results: Adults who smoked, compared to those who never smoked, had significantly higher odds of being vaccine hesitant between March and April 2021, June and August 2021, October and November 2021, and May and July 2022, with odds ratios ranging from 1.60 to 2.44. Reasons for vaccine hesitancy were not different by smoking status.Conclusion: Although the difference in hesitancy by smoking status was attenuated after December 2021, coincid-ing with an increase in cases, evidence from summer 2022 indicates that adults who smoked continued to display vaccine hesitancy. These results have implications for COVID-19-related outcomes and more research is needed to understand reasons for vaccine hesitancy, which could also serve to educate adults who smoke about vaccination for other diseases.

COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among pregnant women: a multicentre cross-sectional survey in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

effective COVID-19 vaccines for the prevention of severe illness have been available for more than one year now. This study was carried out to ascertain vaccine hesitancy and its associations among pregnant women receiving antenatal care in Port Harcourt, a large cosmopolitan town in Nigeria. we conducted a cross-sectional online survey over 2 months among consenting pregnant women receiving antenatal care in the 3 largest obstetric service centers in Port Harcourt to evaluate COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and its associations. the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy was 669 (72.2%). Of the respondents, 27 (2.9%) had been infected or had a close family member infected with SARS-CoV-2, and 897 (96.8%) of them had heard of the COVID-19 vaccine; however, only 133 (14.4%) had been vaccinated against COVID-19. The safety of the mother in 260 (32.8%) and the safety of the unborn baby in 114 (14.4%) of the respondents were the reasons for vaccine hesitancy. A small proportion of women 7(0.9%) were hesitant on religious grounds. Tertiary education, use of childhood immunization for previous infants delivered, and availability of COVID-19 vaccine in the antenatal clinic at no cost to the women, were statistically significant predictors of vaccine uptake among the respondents. the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy among pregnant women in Port Harcourt was 72.2%. Higher academic achievement and availability of the COVID-19 vaccine in the antenatal clinic were predictors of vaccine uptake, while reasons for hesitancy were mostly due to safety concerns for the mother and unborn baby.

Abstract C101: Development of an educational text messaging program to improve human papillomavirus awareness, knowledge, and vaccination intention among Korean young adults in the U.S.

Abstract Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S. Cervical cancer (CC) is the most common HPV-associated cancer, and Korean Americans (KAs) experience one of the highest CC incidence and mortality rates among Asian Americans. Awareness and knowledge of HPV and HPV vaccine are essential in preventing HPV-associated cancers; however, studies emphasize low HPV awareness and knowledge among KAs. Although HPV causes cancers in both men and women, there exist misconceptions that the HPV vaccine is only for women and not for men. Furthermore, research on HPV vaccination among KAs has been conducted mostly among women. The health belief model (HBM) is a value-expectancy theory that is used to explain and predict individual changes in health behaviors and has been used in multiple studies that aimed to understand HPV vaccination behavior. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to develop an HBM guided text messaging program to increase HPV awareness, knowledge, and HPV vaccination among Korean young adults in the U.S. Methods: A total of 10 Korean young adults between the ages of 18 and 26 completed the mixed methods study. The survey examined HPV, HPV vaccine, and cervical cancer awareness and knowledge, beliefs, and vaccination intention. The qualitative interview with cognitive response testing (CRT) of the text messages, which were preconstructed based on previous literature and six constructs of HBM, allowed participants to provide feedback on the comprehension and emotional response to the messages, and any other recommendations to improve the content and delivery of the messages. Results: All participants (N=10) indicated to have never received the HPV vaccine and most participants had no intention to receive the HPV vaccine within one year. Although most of the participants were aware of HPV and HPV vaccine, overall knowledge of HPV, HPV vaccine, and cervical cancer were low. The interviews revealed that reasons for vaccine hesitancy and non-vaccination included cost, inconvenience, and low perceived susceptibility. Especially, there was low perception of the importance of HPV vaccination for males. Overall, findings from the CRT showed that there was a clear understanding of the preconstructed text messages. There was a consensus on the duration and timing of the messages and participants provided recommendations on the content, tone, and structure of the messages. Using the HBM, participants’ feedback on HPV awareness, knowledge, and vaccination intention, the text messaging library was revised and includes a total of 9 text messages over the four days. Conclusions: This study provides important insights into the development of an educational text messaging program among Korean young adults in the U.S. Current study will build a foundation for an educational mobile health program to help increase awareness and knowledge of HPV and HPV-associated cancers, as well as HPV vaccination intention, and impact HPV-associated cancer rates among KAs through vaccination in the long term. Citation Format: Min Jeong Jeon, Daisy Le. Development of an educational text messaging program to improve human papillomavirus awareness, knowledge, and vaccination intention among Korean young adults in the U.S. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr C101.

COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance/Hesitancy and Influence on Infection in Patients with Multiple Myeloma: A National-Wide Multicenter Survey in China

Background Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) are immunocompromised due to impaired humoral and cellular immunity in addition to immunosuppressive therapy. The situation and protective effects of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination in MM patients are not clarified. The study aimed to explore the reasons of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and its influence on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) infection in MM patients during COVID-19 Omicron BA.4/5 subvariant outbreak in China. Methods An anonymous online questionnaire designed by our team was distributed to MM patients national-wide from December 26, 2022, to April 20, 2023. Then content of questionnaire included the contents of disease status, vaccination and SARS-COV-2 infection. Results A total of 508 valid questionnaires from 30 provinces were collected all over China. The vaccination rate of COVID-19 in MM patients was only 34.1% (n=173). The overall infection rate was 57.2%. Multivariate analysis showed that demographic characteristics were not factors affecting vaccination, while those accomplishing autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) presented a lower vaccination rate (20.2% vs. 48.4%, P<0.001). In the survey of vaccine acceptance/hesitancy, voluntary choice (49%), concerns to COVID-19 infection (35.1%), and trust of vaccine efficacy (26.5%) were the three main reasons for receiving vaccines. Physicians' suggestion (52.0%), conflicts of MM treatment (37.8%) and concerns about MM progression (31.3%) were the top three reasons for vaccine hesitancy. Adverse events (AEs) after vaccination were mainly myalgia or joint pain, fatigue and erythema or swelling at the site of injection. No MM disease-related adverse effects were reported. Among 104 vaccinated MM patients with SARS-COV-2 infection, the median time since last vaccines to infections was 304 days (range 4-593). The infection rates between the vaccinated population (n=173) versus non-vaccinated ones (n=335) were 60.1% vs. 55.8% respectively (P=0.35). In subgroup analyses, the infection rates in vaccinated patients were lower than those in unvaccinated ones including the elderly (49.3% vs. 55.2%), obese patients (BMI≥28) (50% vs. 63.3%), and R/RMM population (42.2% vs. 66.7%, P=0.005). The proportion of hospitalized patients due to SARS-COV-2 infection in vaccinated group was significantly lower than that in unvaccinated group (4.8% vs.12.3%, P=0.038). Conclusions Vaccine hesitation is common in Chinese MM patients although inactivated COVID-19 vaccine only causes mild AEs. Lower infection rate in MM patients is probably due to strict self-quarantine. COVID-19 vaccination is not translated into less SARS-COV-2 infections, but does protect the elderly, obese or R/RMM patients from severe infections. Clinicians are suggested to encourage MM patients to receive COVID-19 vaccines for the sake of reducing severe infections and related mortality. Keywords Questionnaire; Multiple Myeloma; vaccination; SARS-COV-2; outbreak infection

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Self-reported Adverse Effects: A Narrative Review

This study reviewed articles investigating the types and severity of adverse effects (AE) of COVID-19 vaccines and the reasons for vaccine hesitancy (VH). Google Scholar, the U.S. National Library of Medicine (PubMed), Science Direct, and Scopus were searched for relevant articles published between 2020 and 2022. Pfizer-BioNTech (92.1%) and Moderna (94.2%) vaccines reported the highest incidence of AEs compared to viral vector and inactivated vaccines. Local AEs were more prevalent in Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Sputnik V, Sinopharm, and Covaxin vaccines, while systemic AEs were more prevalent in Johnson &Johnson, AstraZeneca, and Coronavac. The primary reasons for VH were fear of the AEs (up to 96.8%), disbelief in the efficacy (up to 93.2%), and preference to “wait and see” ( up to 83.2%). VH has been a significant challenge in the global fight against COVID-19. It is crucial to address these concerns and provide accurate information to increase vaccine uptake and ultimately curb the spread of COVID-19.

Factors related to parental COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy for children: An exploratory factor analysis model

Introduction: This pandemic has been accompanied by an overabundance of information and misinformation, an ‘infodemic’ on a global scale which have made acceptability of COVID-19 vaccine a major challenge. The objective of the study was to find out the Beliefs of mothers towards COVID-19 vaccine for children and its impact on vaccine hesitancy. Materials and Methods: After obtaining Institutional ethical clearance and informed consent, a total of 360 mothers who were having at least one child from 5 to 18 years were recruited based on simple random sampling. Face-to-face interview was conducted. The questionnaire was based on the WHO-SAGE working group on vaccine hesitancy. Based on Bartlett’s test of sphericity, the model was found to be fit (there is adequate number of correlations for factor analysis) and KMO test results imply the samples are adequate for factor analysis. K means cluster analysis was used to divide the samples into three clusters and individual respondent’s cluster membership was also identified. Results: It was found 49.4% of mothers were hesitant to vaccine their children against COVID-19. The seven items (reasons for vaccine hesitancy) were grouped into three dimensions (believes in vaccine effectiveness but concerned about side effects, believes in the importance of taking COVID vaccine, trusts information about COVID vaccine), based on how each item loads on to each of three factors. Cluster 1 was that they believe in effectiveness of vaccine but are concerned about side effects (.92094). Conclusion: Mothers’ concerns were mainly about the safety and adverse effects of vaccine.

Vaccine hesitancy in families of children during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective: to identify the reasons that led families of children to vaccine hesitancy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: qualitative study with semi-structured interviews carried out with 20 children's relatives, all of which were mothers of hospitalized children. Data was submitted to lexicographical analysis in the software Interface de R pour les Analyses Multidimensionnelles de Textes et de Questionnaires, using descending hierarchical classification. Results: the fear of leaving one’s house during the pandemic and the lack of vaccine supplies were the reasons found for vaccine hesitancy in the family of children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: the reasons for vaccine hesitancy in the families of children found in this study threaten advancements in the struggle against vaccine-preventable diseases. Contributions to the practice: government bodies, managers, and health unit nurses should be co-responsible for efficient measures to implement health education in this public, creating a bond of trust to reduce the risks from the increase in vaccine hesitancy and reduction in vaccine coverage in the country.

Factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination in Belize

BackgroundWe analyzed the factors associated with vaccine uptake, vaccination intention, and reasons for vaccine hesitancy in Belize. MethodsWe collected a nationally representative household survey of the population in Belize aged 15 years and older (September—October 2021). We compared potential correlates between vaccinated and unvaccinated people using Chi-square tests. Then, we performed logistic regression analysis to identify factors associated with vaccination uptake among all respondents and vaccination intention among the unvaccinated. ResultsOur analysis included data from 1261 interviews. Nearly four out of every five people reported being vaccinated, having received at least one dose. Adolescents and young adults were more likely to be unvaccinated. Significant differences were observed for most behavioral variables. Among the 41.7% of the unvaccinated respondents who said they would probably not or definitely not get vaccinated, the primary reason for their hesitation was fear of side effects. Additionally, almost one third of the unvaccinated individuals expressed a lack of trust in vaccines. Factors associated with increased likelihood of vaccination were efficacy beliefs, self-efficacy and vaccine attitudes. People who believed it was easy to get a vaccine were over 23 times (OR 23.63 [95% CI: 14.21–39.27]) more likely to be vaccinated, while those who believed in vaccine safety were 2.57 times [OR 95% CI: 1.52–4.35] more likely to be vaccinated. Among the unvaccinated, factors associated with intention to get vaccinated were self-identifying as Garifuna and having clear efficacy beliefs. ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first study describing factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine uptake and vaccine hesitancy in Belize. Our findings revealed that accessibility has been the primary limitation in increasing vaccine coverage, and <7% of the eligible population have been strong vaccine deniers. To enhance vaccine uptake, targeted outreach efforts are necessary to address access barriers. Our results call for increased efforts improving self-efficacy, efficacy beliefs, and perceived norms.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among pregnant women in an antenatal clinic in Durban, South Africa.

Mass administration of vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the most efficient intervention against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Recently, vaccinations were shown to be safe and effective during pregnancy. However, vaccination rates are low in low- and middle-income countries, and vaccine hesitancy is a major limiting factor. To investigate the rate of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among pregnant women. A cross-sectional questionnaire-based investigation of 313 unvaccinated pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic in Durban, South Africa (SA). The questionnaire included clinical and socio-demographic data, and reasons for vaccine hesitancy were recorded and evaluated. Of 313 women participating, 126 (40.3%) were vaccinated against COVID-19, 21/313 = 6.7%; for those unvaccinated, 21/187 (13.9%) were planning to be vaccinated. However, most unvaccinated women, 174 of 187 (93%), showed COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. The COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy among pregnant women in Durban, SA, is exceptionally high. This requires urgent attention by the relevant health authorities (both professional health organisations and the SA Department of Health) as many countries experience different waves of the variants of SARS-CoV-2 and herd immunity may not have been achieved. This study showed a high vaccine acceptance hesitancy rate among pregnant women in SA.

COVID-19 vaccination in correctional systems in the United States.

Overcrowding and limited ability to social distance contribute to high rates of COVID-19 outbreaks in correctional facilities. Despite the Centers for Disease Controls' recommendations, incarcerated persons and correctional staff report a high prevalence of vaccine-hesitance. We sought to identify reasons underlying COVID-19 vaccine hesitation and refusal in correctional systems. We used Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) guidelines to design the review. We searched PubMed abstracts and reviewed literature relevant to COVID-19 vaccine uptake and hesitancy in correctional systems of the United States (n = 23). Reasons for vaccine hesitancy among incarcerated people and correctional staff include efficacy, safety concerns, lack of information, and distrust. Findings reveal higher vaccine hesitancy among young and Black residents whereas facilities in close collaborations with state health departments exhibited higher vaccination rates. Correctional facilities must prioritize communication and education to improve the current state of vaccine hesitancy.

Active Medical Learner Engagement Results in the Discovery That One Size Does Not Fit All in Overcoming COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy.

Vaccine hesitancy is an ongoing public health concern defined as the refusal of a vaccine that is readily available. Therefore, we developed a project to explore why patients in a safety net medical center were hesitant or refused the COVID-19 vaccine. The project was conducted by healthcare learners to promote "learning by doing". Responses were collected through a previously developed and ongoing survey among both hospitalized and ambulatory patients that had no previous history of COVID-19 infection, were currently infected, or had recovered from COVID-19. Results were analyzed using a priori power analysis and Chi-squared test. We discovered that different self-reported ethnic groups had different reasons for vaccine hesitancy; specifically, 69% of Black/African American respondents stated that their main reason for hesitancy was vaccine safety compared to 13.9% of non-Hispanic Whites (p = 0.005). Furthermore, our cohort was significantly more likely to disagree rather than agree with the statement: "getting vaccinated is important for the health of others in my community"(p = 0.016). The learners discovered that a more specific approach to vaccine education would be required to understand and overcome vaccine hesitancy in our cohort of socioeconomic and ethnically diverse groups.

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among the General Population: A Cross-Sectional Study.

A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the primary variables causing COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy among residents of Pune. The general population was sampled through simple random sampling. The minimum sample size was determined to be 1246. The questionnaire inquired about the individuals' sociodemographic information, vaccination status, and reasons for vaccine hesitancy. In total, there were 5381 subjects, 1669 of whom were unvaccinated and 3712 of whom were partially vaccinated. Fear of adverse effects (51.71%), fear of losing a few days of work (43.02%), and inability to secure a vaccine slot online (33.01%) were the most frequently cited reasons. An older population (>60 years, p = 0.004), males (p = 0.032), those who were literate (p = 0.011), those of lower middle socioeconomic status (p = 0.001), and smokers were significantly associated with fear and mistrust of the COVID-19 vaccine, while mistrust of the vaccine was greatest among individuals from the upper and lower middle classes (p = 0.001). Vaccine hesitancy due to concerns about the side effects and long-term complications was prevalent among the elderly, males, those from the lower middle class, and smokers. This study emphasizes the importance of communicating effectively about the vaccine's efficacy, its distribution, and vaccination sites.

COVID-19 Virus and Vaccination Attitudes among Healthcare Workers in Michigan: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Defining the characteristics of healthcare worker (HCW) attitudes toward the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine can provide insights into vaccine hesitancy. This study's goal is to determine HCWs' attitudes regarding the COVID-19 vaccination and reasons for vaccine hesitancy. This cross-sectional study surveyed HCWs working in institutions in Saginaw, Sanilac, and Wayne counties in Michigan (N = 120) using tipping-scale questions. Analysis of variance and t-test were used to measure HCWs' attitudes toward the COVID-19 virus and vaccines. Most HCWs received (95.9%) and recommended (98.3%) a COVID-19 vaccine. The top three factors that HCWs cited for recommending a COVID-19 vaccine were: (1) efficacy of the vaccine, (2) current exposure to patients with active COVID-19 infection and risk of virus spread, and (3) safety of vaccine and long-term follow-up. Female HCWs or HCWs aged 25-54 years were more concerned about contracting COVID-19. Physicians or HCWs aged 55-64 were less concerned regarding the effectiveness and side effects of the vaccine. Gender, age, ethnicity, provider type, and medical specialty showed statistically significant differences among COVID-19 attitudes. Focusing educational efforts on HCW demographics who are more likely to have negative attitudes can potentially decrease vaccine hesitancy.

Vaccine Acceptance During a Novel Student-led Emergency Department COVID-19 Vaccination Program.

The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic not only exacerbated barriers to healthcare but has also highlighted the trend toward increased vaccine hesitancy. Our goal was to improve COVID-19 vaccine uptake through a student-led, emergency department-based (ED) vaccination program. This prospective, quality-improvement pilot program used medical and pharmacy student volunteers as COVID-19 vaccine screeners in a southern, urban, academic ED. Patients eligible for vaccination were offered either the Janssen-Johnson & Johnson or the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and were educated about vaccine concerns. Vaccine acceptance rates were recorded, as well as reasons for vaccine hesitancy, vaccine brand preferences, and demographics. The primary and secondary quantitative outcomes were overall vaccine acceptance and change in vaccine acceptance after student-provided education, respectively. We performed logistic regression to identify potential variables that correlated with vaccine acceptance. Guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, focus group interviews with four key stakeholder groups explored implementation facilitators and barriers. We screened 406 patients for COVID-19 vaccination eligibility and current vaccine status, the majority of whom were unvaccinated. Of unvaccinated or partially vaccinated patients, vaccine acceptance before education was 28.3% (81/286), and vaccine acceptance after education was 31.5% (90/286) (% difference, 3.1% [95% CI 0.3%-5.9%], P=0.03). The most common hesitancy factors cited were concerns about side effects and safety. Results from the regression analysis indicated that increasing age and Black race were associated with an increased odds of vaccine acceptance. Focus groups revealed implementation barriers, including patient resistance and workflow issues, and facilitators, including student involvement and public health promotion. Using medical and pharmacy student volunteers as COVID-19 vaccine screeners was successful, and brief education provided by the students led to a modest increase in vaccine acceptance, with overall acceptance of 31.5%. Numerous educational benefits are described.

Predictors of COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake and Reasons for Vaccine Hesitancy Among New York State Refugees

ABSTRACT Purpose Resettled refugees in the U.S. face a disproportionately high risk of COVID-19 exposure, infection, and death. This study examines COVID-19 vaccination status among adult participants and their minor children, reasons for vaccine hesitancy, and predictors of vaccine uptake, as well as sources of COVID-19 news and information and trust in those sources. Method The data in this study were drawn from the Telehealth and COVID-19 Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices in New York Refugee Communities Survey (N = 353), conducted March-May, 2022. Results The multivariate results indicate that in this sample of resettled refugees, those who reported higher levels of educational attainment, were from Afghanistan, and those who had fewer concerns about the vaccine were more likely to accept vaccination. The participants in this study identified local health workers, clinics, and community organizations – places where social workers are present – as both the largest source of nonsocial media COVID-19 news and information and the most trusted source of COVID-19 news and information. Discussion The implications from this study provide social workers with an understanding of the social and behavioral factors impacting vaccine uptake in refugee communities. Conclusion According to the NASW Code of Ethics, social workers must challenge inequalities that persist against marginalized groups, such as racial and ethnic health disparities. Social work practitioners can play an essential role in decreasing unjust health disparities by providing accurate, culturally appropriate information on public health concerns such as COVID-19 to their refugee clients and within interprofessional collaboration.

Determinants of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in Mozambique: The role of institutional trust.

Vaccination plays an imperative role in protecting public health and preventing avoidable mortality. Yet, the reasons for vaccine hesitancy in African countries are not well understood. This study investigates the factors associated with the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine in Mozambique, with a focus on the role of institutional trust. The data came from the three waves of the COVID-19 Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) survey which followed a cohort of 1,371 adults in Mozambique over six months (N=3809). We examined vaccine acceptance based on three measurements: willingness to take vaccine, perceived vaccine efficacy, and perceived vaccine safety. We conducted multilevel regression analysis to investigate the trajectories of, and the association between institutional trust and vaccine acceptance. One third of the survey participants (37%) would definitely take the vaccine. Meanwhile, 31% believed the vaccine would prevent the COVID-19 infection, and 27% believed the vaccine would be safe. There was a significant decrease in COVID-19 vaccine acceptance between waves 1 and 3 of the survey. Institutional trust was consistently and strongly correlated with different measures of vaccine acceptance. There was a greater decline in vaccine acceptance in people with lower institutional trust. The positive correlation between institutional trust and vaccine acceptance was stronger in younger than older adults. Vaccine acceptance also varied by gender and marital status. Vaccine acceptance can be volatile even over short periods of time. Institutional trust is a central driver of vaccine acceptance and contributes to the resilience of the health system. Our study highlights the importance of health communication and building a trustful relationship between the general public and the institutions in the context of a global pandemic.