scholarly journals Attitudes and Beliefs of COVID-19 and Vaccine Uptake among Amish Women

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-41
Author(s):  
Melissa Thomas ◽  
Iva Byler ◽  
Kayla Marrero ◽  
Janet Miller ◽  
Joseph F. Donnermeyer
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Group Living ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
Health Clinics ◽  
Raising Awareness ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Canadian Provinces

The Amish, a Christian religious group living in rural areas with distinct beliefs about remaining separate from the outside world, have communities in 31 states and four Canadian provinces with just over 600 settlements. Their access to health care and technology is often limited. Several studies have noted low vaccination rates for preventable diseases among the Amish, often due to lack of knowledge about efficacy and safety of vaccines. To gain an understanding of beliefs surrounding COVID-19 and attitudes toward vaccine uptake, we surveyed 863 Amish and Mennonite women throughout Ohio who participated in rural mobile health clinics between 2015 and 2019 at two time periods: before and after the 2020 election. We received 372 completed surveys, 252 of which were completed by respondents who identified themselves as Amish. While 100% of the Amish respondents had heard of COVID-19 and 90% reported knowing someone who had contracted the disease, a mere 1.7% (4) indicated a willingness to get vaccinated. In terms of COVID-19 diagnosis, post-election participants were two times more likely to report having a positive test than pre-election respondents (p = .011). Qualitative analyses revealed significant differences in keywords used to describe COVID-19. Post-election respondents were less likely to use words like "evil" and "bad" and associate COVID-19 with the flu. A notable shift in vaccine hesitancy among Amish participants centered on the perceived politicization of the pandemic and safety/efficacy of the vaccines. Public health efforts should center on raising awareness of the severity of COVID-19 and the benefits of vaccine uptake for distinctive subcultures like the Amish.

scholarly journals COVID-19 infection and vaccination rates in healthcare workers in British Columbia, Canada: A Longitudinal Urban versus Rural Analysis of the Impact of the Vaccine Mandate

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annalee Yassi ◽  
Stephen Barker ◽  
Karen Lockhart ◽  
Deanne Taylor ◽  
Devin Harris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Healthcare Provision ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Urban Versus

Purpose: Healthcare workers (HCWs) play a critical role in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Early in the pandemic, urban centres were hit hardest globally; rural areas gradually became more impacted. We compared COVID-19 infection and vaccine uptake in HCWs living in urban versus rural locations within, and between, two health authorities in British Columbia (BC), Canada. We also analyzed the impact of a vaccine mandate for HCWs. Methods: We tracked laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections, positivity rates, and vaccine uptake in 29,021 HCWs in Interior Health (IH) and 24,634 HCWs in Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), by occupation, age, and home location, comparing to the general population in that region. We then evaluated the impact of infection rates as well as the mandate on vaccination uptake. Results: By October 27, 2021, the date that unvaccinated HCWs were prohibited from providing healthcare, only 1.6% in VCH yet 6.5% in IH remained unvaccinated. Rural workers in both areas had significantly higher unvaccinated rates compared with urban dwellers. Over 1,800 workers, comprising 6.4% of rural HCWs and 3.3% of urban HCWs, remained unvaccinated and set to be terminated from their employment. While the mandate prompted a significant increase in second doses, the impact on the unvaccinated was less clear. Conclusions: As rural areas often suffer from under-staffing, loss of HCWs could have serious impacts on healthcare provision as well as on the livelihoods of unvaccinated HCWs. Greater efforts are needed to understand how to better address the drivers of rural-related vaccine hesitancy as the pandemic continues.

scholarly journals Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines on Covid-19 Incidence and Mortality in the United States

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fang Fang ◽  
John David Clemens ◽  
Zuo-Feng Zhang ◽  
Timothy F. Brewer
Keyword(s):  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Herd Immunity ◽  
The United States ◽  
Vaccination Rate ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Percentage Increase ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
Incidence And Mortality ◽  
Before And After

Background: Despite safe and effective vaccines to prevent Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections and disease, a substantial minority of the US remains resistant to getting vaccinated. It is imperative to know if expanding vaccination rates could reduce community-wide Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) disease, not just among those vaccinated. Methods: Negative binomial models were used to estimate associations between U.S. county-level vaccination rates and county-wide COVID-19 incidence and mortality between April 23rd and September 30th, 2021. A two-week lag and a four-week lag were introduced to assess vaccination rate impact on incidence and mortality, respectively. Stratified analyses were performed for county vaccination rates >40%, and before and after Delta became the dominant variant. Findings: Among 3,070 counties, each percentage increase in population vaccination rates reduced county-wide COVID-19 incidence by 0.9% (relative risk (RR) 0.9910 (95% CI: 0.9869, 0.9952)) and mortality by 1.9% (RR 0.9807 (95% CI: 0.9745, 0.9823)). Among counties with vaccination coverage >40%, each percentage increase in vaccination rates reduced COVID-19 disease by 1.5%, RR 0.9850 (95% CI: 0.9793, 0.9952) and mortality by 2.7% (RR 0.9727 (95% CI: 0.9632, 0.9823)). These associations were not observed among counties with <40% vaccination rates. Increasing vaccination rates from 40% to 80% would have reduced COVID-19 cases by 45.4% (RR 0.5458 (95% CI: 0.4335, 0.6873)) and deaths by 67.0% (RR 0.3305 (95% CI: 0.2230, 0.4898)). An estimated 5,989,952 COVID-19 cases could have been prevented and 127,596 lives saved had US population vaccination rates increased from 40% to 80%. Interpretations: Increasing U.S. SARS-CoV-2 vaccination rates results in population-wide reductions in COVID-19 incidence and mortality. Furthermore, increasing vaccination rates above 40% has protective effects among non-vaccinated persons. Given ongoing vaccine hesitancy in the U.S., increasing vaccination rates could better protect the entire community and potentially reach herd immunity. Funding: National Cancer Institute

scholarly journals Barriers to Vaccination Among People with Parkinson’s Disease and Implications for COVID-19

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Tiffany Phanhdone ◽  
Patrick Drummond ◽  
Talia Meisel ◽  
Naomi Friede ◽  
Alessandro Di Rocco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Healthcare Utilization ◽  
Pneumococcal Vaccination ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
Vaccine Recommendations

Background: Patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) are at higher risk of vaccine-preventable respiratory infections. However, advanced, homebound individuals may have less access to vaccinations. In light of COVID-19, understanding barriers to vaccination in PD may inform strategies to increase vaccine uptake. Objective: To identify influenza and pneumococcal vaccination rates, including barriers and facilitators to vaccination, among homebound and ambulatory individuals with PD and related disorders. Methods: Cross-sectional US-based study among individuals with PD, aged > 65 years, stratified as homebound or ambulatory. Participants completed semi-structured interviews on vaccination rates and barriers, and healthcare utilization. Results: Among 143 participants, 9.8% had missed all influenza vaccinations in the past 5 years, and 32.2% lacked any pneumococcal vaccination, with no between-group differences. Homebound participants (n = 41) reported difficulty traveling to clinic (p < 0.01) as a vaccination barrier, and despite similar outpatient visit frequencies, had more frequent emergency department visits (31.7% vs. 9.8%, p < 0.01) and hospitalizations (14.6% vs. 2.9%, p = 0.03). Vaccine hesitancy was reported in 35% of participants, vaccine refusal in 19%, and 13.3% reported unvaccinated household members, with no between-group differences. Nearly 13% thought providers recommended against vaccines for PD patients, and 31.5% were unsure of vaccine recommendations in PD. Conclusion: Among a sample of homebound and ambulatory people with PD, many lack age-appropriate immunizations despite ample healthcare utilization. Many participants were unsure whether healthcare providers recommend vaccinations for people with PD. In light of COVID-19, neurologist reinforcement that vaccinations are indicated, safe, and recommended may be beneficial.

scholarly journals Changing the Narrative: Structural Barriers and Racial and Ethnic Inequities in COVID-19 Vaccination

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (18) ◽  
pp. 9904
Author(s):  
Anuli Njoku ◽  
Marcelin Joseph ◽  
Rochelle Felix
Keyword(s):  
Minority Groups ◽  
Ethnic Disparities ◽  
The United States ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Structural Barriers ◽  
Structural Racism ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
Promising Solution ◽  
The Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States. Although a promising solution of the COVID-19 vaccination offers hope, disparities in access again threaten the health of these communities. Various explanations have arisen for the cause of disparate vaccination rates among racial and ethnic minorities, including discussion of vaccine hesitancy. Conversely, the role of vaccine accessibility rooted in structural racism as a driver in these disparities should be further explored. This paper discusses the impact of structural barriers on racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 vaccine uptake. We also recommend public health, health system, and community-engaged approaches to reduce racial disparities in COVID-19 disease and mortality.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Vaccination Mandates and Vaccine Uptake

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Karaivanov ◽  
Dongwoo Kim ◽  
Shih En Lu ◽  
Hitoshi Shigeoka
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Time Series Analysis ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Difference In Differences ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
Series Analysis ◽  
Percentage Points ◽  
Canadian Provinces ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Approach Time

Abstract We evaluate the impact of government mandated proof of vaccination requirements for access to public venues and non-essential businesses on COVID-19 vaccine uptake. We find that the announcement of a mandate is associated with a rapid and significant surge in new vaccinations (more than 60% increase in weekly first doses) using the variation in the timing of these measures across Canadian provinces in a difference-in-differences approach. Time-series analysis for each province and for France, Italy and Germany corroborates this finding, and we estimate cumulative gains of up to 5 percentage points in provincial vaccination rates and 790,000 or more first doses for Canada as a whole as of October 31, 2021 (5 to 13 weeks after the provincial mandate announcements). We also find large vaccination gains in France (3 to 5 mln first doses), Italy (around 6 mln) and Germany (around 3.5 mln) 11 to 16 weeks after the proof of vaccination mandate announcements.JEL codes: I18, I12, C23

scholarly journals Addressing Parental Vaccine Hesitancy and Other Barriers to Childhood/Adolescent Vaccination Uptake During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olufunto A. Olusanya ◽  
Robert A. Bednarczyk ◽  
Robert L. Davis ◽  
Arash Shaban-Nejad
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Policy Decision ◽  
The United States ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Children And Adolescent ◽  
Vaccination Rates

Routine childhood immunizations are proven to be one of the most effective public health interventions at controlling numerous deadly diseases. Therefore, the CDC recommends routine immunizations for children and adolescent populations against vaccine-preventable diseases e.g., tetanus, pertussis, diphtheria, etc. This current review sought to examine barriers to pediatric vaccine uptake behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also explored the implications for parental vaccine hesitancy/delay during an ongoing health crisis and proposed recommendations for increasing vaccine confidence and compliance. Our review determined that the receipt for vaccinations steadily improved in the last decade for both the United States and Tennessee. However, this incremental progress has been forestalled by the COVID-19 pandemic and other barriers i.e. parental vaccine hesitancy, social determinants of health (SDoH) inequalities, etc. which further exacerbate vaccination disparities. Moreover, non-compliance to routine vaccinations could cause an outbreak of diseases, thereby, worsening the ongoing health crisis and already strained health care system. Healthcare providers are uniquely positioned to offer effective recommendations with presumptive languaging to increase vaccination rates, as well as, address parental vaccine hesitancy. Best practices that incorporate healthcare providers’ quality improvement coaching, vaccination reminder recall systems, adherence to standardized safety protocols (physical distancing, hand hygiene practices, etc.), as well as, offer telehealth and outdoor/drive-through/curbside vaccination services, etc. are warranted. Additionally, a concerted effort should be made to utilize public health surveillance systems to collect, analyze, and interpret data, thereby, ensuring the dissemination of timely, accurate health information for effective health policy decision-making e.g., vaccine distribution, etc.

scholarly journals COVID-19 and Historic Influenza Vaccinations in the United States: A Comparative Analysis

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1284
Author(s):  
Pranav Mirpuri ◽  
Richard A. Rovin
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
The United States ◽  
Vaccination Rate ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
County Level ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
Global Challenge ◽  
Us Counties

The COVID-19 vaccination effort is a monumental global challenge. Recognizing and addressing the causes of vaccine hesitancy will improve vaccine uptake. The primary objective of this study was to compare the COVID-19 vaccination rates in US counties to historical vaccination rates for influenza in persons aged 65 and older. The secondary objective was to identify county-level demographic, socioeconomic, and political factors that influence vaccination rates. County level data were obtained from publicly available databases for comparison and to create predictive models. Overall, in US counties the COVID-19 vaccination rate exceeded influenza vaccination rates amongst those aged 65 or older (69.4.0% vs. 44%, p < 0.0001). 2690 (83.4%) of 3224 counties had vaccinated 50% or more of their 65 and older residents in the first seven months of the COVID-19 vaccination roll out. There were 467 (14.5%) of 3223 counties in which the influenza vaccination rate exceeded the COVID-19 vaccination rate. Most of these counties were in the Southern region, were considered politically “red” and had a significantly higher non-Hispanic Black resident population (14.4% vs. 8.2%, p < 0.0001). Interventions intended to improve uptake should account for nuances in vaccine access, confidence, and consider factual social media messaging, especially in vulnerable counties.

scholarly journals Distance to Vaccine Sites is Associated with Lower COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asaf Mazar ◽  
Geoffrey Tomaino ◽  
Ziv Carmon ◽  
Wendy Wood
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Cause Of Death ◽  
Distance Effect ◽  
The United States ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Reverse Causality ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
Wide Availability

COVID-19 remains a leading cause of death in the United States, despite wide availability of vaccines. Distance may pose an overlooked barrier to vaccine uptake. We analyzed the association between distance to vaccine sites and vaccination rates. Zip codes farther away from vaccine sites had consistently lower vaccine uptake. This effect persisted after controlling for potent covariates (e.g., partisanship, vaccine hesitancy), as well as in multiverse analyses testing across more than 1,000 specifications. Suggesting that the effect was not explained by reverse causality (i.e. proximity driven by demand), the distance effect maintained in analyses limited only to retail locations (e.g., CVS), whose location was set pre-pandemic. Findings suggest that reducing distance to vaccine sites as a powerful lever for encouraging COVID-19 vaccination.

scholarly journals A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Barriers to and Facilitators of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Among Adolescents in Montana

2020 ◽  
Vol 135 (6) ◽  
pp. 842-850
Author(s):  
Sophia R. Newcomer ◽  
James Caringi ◽  
Beth Jones ◽  
Emily Coyle ◽  
Timothy Schehl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Papillomavirus ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Hpv Vaccination ◽  
The United States ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Medical Providers ◽  
Medical Provider ◽  
Vaccination Rates

Objectives Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates among adolescents are lower in rural areas than in urban areas of the United States. The objective of this study was to identify barriers to and facilitators of adolescent HPV vaccination in Montana, a large, primarily rural state. Methods Using a mixed-methods design, we integrated quantitative analyses of Montana’s National Immunization Survey–Teen (NIS-Teen) data from 2013-2017 with qualitative data collected at a statewide meeting in October 2018 and from stakeholder interviews conducted from October 2018 through June 2019. Using NIS-Teen data, we identified trends and estimated adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) to identify factors associated with vaccine uptake. Using directed content analysis of qualitative data, we identified themes related to vaccine uptake. Results In Montana, initiation of the HPV vaccine series among adolescents aged 13-17 increased from 34.4% in 2013 to 65.5% in 2017. We identified 6 themes related to HPV vaccination from qualitative analyses, including medical providers’ recommendation style as a facilitator of vaccination and parental vaccine hesitancy as a barrier to vaccination. In NIS-Teen 2017 data (n = 326 adolescents), receiving a medical provider recommendation was significantly associated with series initiation (aPR = 2.3; 95% CI, 1.5-3.6). Among parents who did not intend to initiate the vaccine series for their adolescent within 12 months (n = 71), vaccine safety was the top concern (aPR = 24.5%; 95% CI, 12.1%-36.9%). Conclusions HPV vaccination rates have increased in Montana but remain lower than rates for other adolescent vaccines. Future work should focus on reducing missed opportunities, increasing parents’ knowledge of and confidence in vaccination, and training medical providers on addressing common vaccine concerns.

scholarly journals Social Media Sharing of Articles About Measles in a European Context: Text Analysis Study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominik Wawrzuta ◽  
Mariusz Jaworski ◽  
Joanna Gotlib ◽  
Mariusz Panczyk
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Latent Dirichlet Allocation ◽  
Scientific Information ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Effective Vaccine ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
Nature Of Information ◽  
Social Media Platforms

BACKGROUND Despite the existence of an effective vaccine, measles still threatens the health and lives of many Europeans. Notably, during the COVID-19 pandemic, measles vaccine uptake declined; as a result, after the pandemic, European countries will have to increase vaccination rates to restore the extent of vaccination coverage among the population. Because information obtained from social media are one of the main causes of vaccine hesitancy, knowledge of the nature of information pertaining to measles that is shared on social media may help create educational campaigns. OBJECTIVE In this study, we aim to define the characteristics of European news about measles shared on social media platforms (ie, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest) from 2017 to 2019. METHODS We downloaded and translated (into English) 10,305 articles on measles published in European Union countries. Using latent Dirichlet allocation, we identified main topics and estimated the sentiments expressed in these articles. Furthermore, we used linear regression to determine factors related to the number of times a given article was shared on social media. RESULTS We found that, in most European social media posts, measles is only discussed in the context of local European events. Articles containing educational information and describing world outbreaks appeared less frequently. The most common emotions identified from the study’s news data set were fear and trust. Yet, it was found that readers were more likely to share information on educational topics and the situation in Germany, Ukraine, Italy, and Samoa. A high amount of anger, joy, and sadness expressed within the text was also associated with a higher number of shares. CONCLUSIONS We identified which features of news articles were related to increased social media shares. We found that social media users prefer sharing educational news to sharing informational news. Appropriate emotional content can also increase the willingness of social media users to share an article. Effective media content that promotes measles vaccinations should contain educational or scientific information, as well as specific emotions (such as anger, joy, or sadness). Articles with this type of content may offer the best chance of disseminating vital messages to a broad social media audience.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document