Minority and Rural Coronavirus Insights Study (MRCIS): The Need for Targeted COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts in Minority Populations (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Latrice Landry ◽  
LaTasha Lee ◽  
Nishanth Chalasani ◽  
Liou Xu ◽  
Taylor Stair ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Interest Rates ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Health Priorities ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
National Minority ◽  
Minority Populations ◽  
Study Cohort ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Populations At Risk

UNSTRUCTURED The purpose of this report is to describe SARS-CoV-2 vaccine interest rates in a racially, geographically, and ethnically diverse study cohort and characterize vaccine interest across a racially, ethnically, and geographically diverse study population. Design: This report describes responses to a survey administered between November 2020 and May 2021 using a community convenience sample through a partnership between the National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) as part of the Minority and Rural Coronavirus Insights Study (MRCIS). Analysis of survey responses from 3,624 participants are provided. Early data from the MRCIS cohort suggest that [SARS-CoV-2 vaccine hesitancy] is more prevalent in Black versus Non-Hispanic Whites survey respondents, and the Hispanic community has positive interest in the vaccine, to a similar degree as Whites. The persistent presence of [vaccine undecided] across different sites and racial/ethnic groups uncovers the need for more public health efforts to influence positive views about vaccination. These findings highlights the urgent need for interventional educational campaigns targeted at populations at risk of low vaccine interest. Focused efforts are needed to combat misinformation and explain vaccine safety and effectiveness to promote its uptake and avoid low inoculation rates. Public health communication must consider differences in population groups, regions, and social determinants of health to fully address vaccine uptake disparities and overcome alleged hesitancy. Key Points -Willingness to receive the SARS CoV-2 varies among minority populations. -[SARS-CoV-2 vaccine hesitancy] is more prevalent in the non-Hispanic Black population than the non-Hispanic White and Hispanic populations. -Public health infrastructure is needed in underserved communities for efficient assessment and targeted communication of public health priorities such as the SARS CoV-2 vaccination.

scholarly journals Minority and Rural Coronavirus Insights Study (MRCIS): The Need for Targeted COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts in Minority Populations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Latrice Landry ◽  
LaTasha Lee ◽  
William Meyer ◽  
Gary Puckrein ◽  
Nishanth Chalasani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Interest Rates ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Health Priorities ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
National Minority ◽  
Minority Populations ◽  
Study Cohort ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Populations At Risk

Abstract Importance: Racial and ethnic minority populations have been disproportionately affected in terms of hospitalizations and deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccine uptake remains a barrier to full population inoculation against this highly infectious disease. Objective: The purpose of this report is to describe SARS-CoV-2 vaccine interest rates in a racially, geographically, and ethnically diverse study cohort and characterize vaccine interest across a racially, ethnically, and geographically diverse study population. Design: This report describes responses to a survey administered between November 2020 and May 2021 using a community convenience sample through a partnership between the National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) as part of the Minority and Rural Coronavirus Insights Study (MRCIS). Analysis of survey responses from 3,624 participants are provided. Results: Early data from the MRCIS cohort suggest that [SARS-CoV-2 vaccine hesitancy] is more prevalent in Black versus Non-Hispanic Whites survey respondents, and the Hispanic community has positive interest in the vaccine, to a similar degree as Whites. The persistent presence of [vaccine undecided] across different sites and racial/ethnic groups uncovers the need for more public health efforts to influence positive views about vaccination. Conclusion: These findings highlights the urgent need for interventional educational campaigns targeted at populations at risk of low vaccine interest. Focused efforts are needed to combat misinformation and explain vaccine safety and effectiveness to promote its uptake and avoid low inoculation rates. Public health communication must consider differences in population groups, regions, and social determinants of health to fully address vaccine uptake disparities and overcome alleged hesitancy. Key Points -Willingness to receive the SARS CoV-2 varies among minority populations. -[SARS-CoV-2 vaccine hesitancy] is more prevalent in the non-Hispanic Black population than the non-Hispanic White and Hispanic populations. -Public health infrastructure is needed in underserved communities for efficient assessment and targeted communication of public health priorities such as the SARS CoV-2 vaccination.

scholarly journals Myths Surrounding Covid-19 Vaccine Candidates: A Guide to Fight Back

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Zizzo
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Herd Immunity ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Protective Measure ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Vaccine Candidates ◽  
The Public ◽  
News Organizations ◽  
Public Health Officials

The Covid-19 pandemic has propelled public health officials into the socio-political sphere due to the need for constantly updated information on behalf of the public. However, many individuals choose to acquire health information/guidance from indirect sources, including social media, news organizations, and general word of mouth. As a result, myths and false narratives about various essential health topics, including vaccine characteristics and protective measures, can circulate un-verified between millions of individuals with little recourse. These can further widen the “gap” between public knowledge and current research, resulting in lower vaccine uptake (vaccine hesitancy) and protective measure adherence. Such actions have profound implications as nations attempt to achieve herd immunity and end the pandemic once and for all. Thus, it is vital that public health officials, health providers, researchers, and the general public be able to differentiate common Covid-19 myths from facts and be prepared to approach such interactions via sound reasoning and research-based evidence. This chapter will serve as a guide to accomplish just that.

scholarly journals Determinants of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and vaccine uptake in a national cohort of U.S. adults

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madhura S Rane ◽  
Shivani Kochhar ◽  
Emily Poehlein ◽  
William You ◽  
McKaylee Robertson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Lower Odds ◽  
The Public ◽  
National Longitudinal Study ◽  
Public Health Threat ◽  
National Cohort ◽  
The U.S

Background Vaccine hesitancy in the U.S. may limit the potential to alleviate the public health threat caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We estimated trends in and correlates of vaccine hesitancy, and its association with subsequent vaccine uptake among 5,085 United States adults from the CHASING COVID Cohort study, a national longitudinal study. Trends in willingness to vaccinate were examined longitudinally in three rounds of interviews from September to December 2020. We assessed correlates of willingness to vaccinate in December 2020. We also estimated the association between willingness to vaccinate in December 2020 and subsequent vaccine uptake in February 2021. Results Vaccine hesitancy and resistance decreased from 51% and 8% in September 2020 to 35% and 5% in December 2020, respectively. Compared to Non-Hispanic (NH) White participants, NH Black and Hispanic participants had higher adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for both vaccine hesitancy (aOR: 3.3 [95% CI: 2.6, 4.2] for NH Black and 1.8 [95% CI: 1.5, 2.2] for Hispanic) and vaccine resistance (aOR: 6.4 [95% CI: 4.3, 9.4] for NH Black and 1.9 [95% CI: 1.3, 2.7] for Hispanic). Willingness to vaccinate was associated with lower odds of vaccine uptake among 65+ year olds (aOR: 0.4, 95% CI: 0.3, 0.6 for hesitancy; aOR: 0.1, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.6 for resistance) and healthcare workers (aOR: 0.2, 95% CI: 0.1, 0.3 for hesitancy; aOR: 0.04, 95% CI: 0.006, 0.2 for resistance). Conclusions Awareness and distribution efforts should focus on vaccine hesitant vulnerable populations.

scholarly journals Beyond confidence: Development of a measure assessing the 5C psychological antecedents of vaccination

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cornelia Betsch ◽  
Philipp Schmid ◽  
Dorothee K. Heinemeier ◽  
Lars Korn ◽  
Cindy Holtmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Concurrent Validity ◽  
Collective Responsibility ◽  
Theoretical Work ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Short Version ◽  
German Population ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Convenience Sample

BackgroundMonitoring the reasons why a considerable number of people do not receive recommended vaccinations allows identification of important trends over time, and designing and evaluating strategies to address vaccine hesitancy and increase vaccine uptake. Existing validated measures assessing vaccine hesitancy focus primarily on confidence in vaccines and the system that delivers them. However, empirical and theoretical work has stated that complacency (not perceiving diseases as high risk), constraints (structural and psychological barriers), calculation (engagement in extensive information searching), and aspects pertaining to collective responsibility (willingness to protect others) also play a role in explaining vaccination behavior. The objective was therefore to develop a validated measure of these 5C psychological antecedents of vaccination. Methods and FindingsThree cross-sectional studies were conducted. Study 1 uses factor analysis to develop an initial scale and assesses the sub-scales’ convergent, discriminant, and concurrent validity (N = 1,445, two German convenience-samples). In Study 2, a sample representative regarding age and gender for the German population (N = 1,003) completed the measure for vaccination in general and for specific vaccinations to assess the potential need for a vaccine-specific wording of items. Study 3 compared the novel scale’s performance with six existing measures of vaccine hesitancy (N = 350, US convenience-sample). As an outcome, a long (15-item) and short (5-item) 5C scale were developed as reliable and valid indicators of confidence, complacency, constraints, calculation, and collective responsibility. The 5C sub-scales correlated with relevant psychological concepts, such as attitude (confidence), perceived personal health status and invulnerability (complacency), self-control (constraints), preference for deliberation (calculation), and communal orientation (collective responsibility), among others. The new scale provided similar results when formulated in a general vs. vaccine-specific way (Study 2). In a comparison of seven measures the 5C scale was constantly among the scales that explained the highest amounts of variance in analyses predicting single vaccinations (between 20% and 40%; Study 3). The present studies are limited to the concurrent validity of the scales. ConclusionsThe 5C scale provides a novel tool to monitor psychological antecedents of vaccination and facilitates diagnosis, intervention design and evaluation. Its short version is suitable for field settings and regular global monitoring of relevant antecedents of vaccination.

Theoretical Considerations for Communication Campaigns to Address Vaccine Hesitancy

2021 ◽  
pp. 152483992110504
Author(s):  
Melissa J. Kenzig ◽  
Nadine S. Mumford
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Behavior Interventions ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
Health Behavior Interventions ◽  
Communication Campaigns ◽  
Effective Component ◽  
Theoretical Considerations

Vaccine hesitancy, declared one of the top-10 public health threats in 2019, has become a high priority for public health professionals. Health communication campaigns have the potential to be an effective component of health behavior interventions, including those to promote vaccination. There is limited research examining the effects of theory-based health communications campaigns focused on vaccine hesitancy. Communication campaigns that use stage-matched theoretical constructs as the basis for messages are more likely to be successful in encouraging vaccine uptake by organizing behavioral intent to vaccinate along each stage and identifying which theoretical constructs are most relevant to where individuals are in the behavior change process. This article focuses on the underlying factors affecting adult decisions to get vaccinated and proposes a model through which to segment populations and determine appropriate theory-based communication campaigns to address vaccine hesitancy.

Vaccine Hesitancy

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eve Dubé ◽  
Noni E. MacDonald
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
World Health ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Complex Nature ◽  
Vaccine Acceptance ◽  
Vaccine Preventable Diseases ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Individual

Vaccination is one of the greatest public health successes. With sanitation and clean water, vaccines are estimated to have saved more lives over the past 100 years than any other health intervention. Vaccination not only protects the individual, but also, in many instances, provides community protection against vaccine-preventable diseases through herd immunity. To reduce the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases, vaccination programs rely upon reaching and sustaining high coverage rates, but paradoxically, because of the success of vaccination, new generations are often unaware of the risks of these serious diseases and their concerns now concentrate on the perceived risk of individual vaccines. Over the past decades, several vaccine controversies have occurred worldwide, generating concerns about vaccine adverse effects and eroding trust in health authorities, experts, and science. Gaps in vaccination coverage can, in part, be attributed to vaccine hesitancy and not just to “supply side issues” such as access to vaccination services and affordability. The concept of vaccine hesitancy is now commonly used in the discourse around vaccine acceptance. The World Health Organization defines vaccine hesitancy as “lack of acceptance of vaccines despite availability of vaccination services. Vaccine hesitancy is complex and context specific, varying across time, place and vaccines.” A vaccine-hesitant person can delay, be reluctant but still accept, or refuse one, some, or all vaccines. Technical, psychological, sociocultural, political, and economic factors can contribute to vaccine hesitancy. At the individual level, recent reviews have focused on factors associated with vaccination acceptance or refusal, identifying determinants such as fear of side effects, perceptions around health and prevention of disease and a preference for “natural” health, low perception of the efficacy and usefulness of vaccines, negative past experiences with vaccination services, and lack of awareness or knowledge about vaccination. Very few interventions have been shown to be effective in reducing vaccine hesitancy. Most of the studies have only focused on metrics of vaccine uptake and refusal to evaluate interventions aimed at enhancing vaccine acceptance, which makes it difficult to assess their potential effectiveness to address vaccine hesitancy. In addition, despite the complex nature of vaccination decision-making, the majority of public health interventions to promote vaccination are designed with the assumption that vaccine hesitancy is due to lack or inadequate knowledge about vaccines (the “knowledge-deficit” or “knowledge gap” approach). A key predictor of acceptance of a vaccine by a vaccine-hesitant person remains the recommendation for vaccination by a trusted healthcare provider. When providers communicate effectively about the value and need for vaccinations and vaccine safety, people are more confident in their decisions. However, to do this well, healthcare providers must be confident themselves about the safety, effectiveness, and importance of vaccination, and recent research has shown that a proportion of healthcare providers are vaccine-hesitant in their professional and personal lives. Effective strategies to address vaccine hesitancy among these hesitant providers have yet to be identified. A better understanding of the dynamics of the underlying determinants of vaccine hesitancy is critical for effective tailored interventions to be designed for both the public and healthcare providers.

scholarly journals Attitudes towards the COVID-19 Vaccine and Willingness to Get Vaccinated among Healthcare Workers in French Guiana: The Influence of Geographical Origin

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 682
Author(s):  
Nicolas Vignier ◽  
Kepha Brureau ◽  
Sybille Granier ◽  
Jacques Breton ◽  
Céline Michaud ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
French Guiana ◽  
Medical Profession ◽  
Vaccine Safety ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Negative Attitudes

Background: In the context of the global COVID-19 pandemic and the expansion of the more transmissible 20J/501Y.V3 (Gamma) variant of concern (VOC), mRNA vaccines have been made available in French Guiana, an overseas French territory in South America, from mid-January 2021. This study aimed to estimate the willingness to be vaccinated and the socio-demographic and motivational correlates among Health Care Workers (HCWs) in French Guiana. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from January 22 to March 26, 2021 among a sample of HCWs in French Guiana. They were asked about their willingness to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and vaccine hesitancy, vaccine uptake and vaccines attitudes. Factors associated with willingness to get vaccinated have been analyzed with ordinal logistic regression, using Stata software. Results: A total of 579 HCWs were interviewed, including 220 physicians and 200 nurses most often working in hospital (54%) or in the liberal sector (22%). Overall, 65.6% of respondents reported that they were willing or had already been vaccinated against COVID-19, while 24.3% of respondents reported that they did not want to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and 11.2% were unsure. HCWs were more willing to get vaccine if they were older, were worried about COVID-19 and were confident in the management of epidemic. Conversely, participants were less likely to have been vaccinated or willing to if they were nurses or of another non-medical profession, born in French Guiana, feared adverse effects, or if they did not trust pharmaceutical companies and management of the epidemic by authorities. Conclusion: Negative attitudes towards vaccines are a major public health concern among HCWs in French Guiana when considering the current active epidemic with Gamma VOC. General vaccine hesitancy and concerns about future side effects in particular represent important barriers. Low confidence in government and science are significant in COVID-19 vaccine refusal among non-medical staffs. Public health messaging with information on vaccine safety should be tailored to address these concerns. The specific challenges of HCWs from French Guiana must be taken into account.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake and Hesitancy Among Current Tobacco Users

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 1179173X2110680
Author(s):  
Nicolle M Krebs ◽  
Gail D’Souza ◽  
Candace Bordner ◽  
Sophia I Allen ◽  
Andrea L Hobkirk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adult Population ◽  
The United States ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
P Value ◽  
Current Cigarette Smoking ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Current Tobacco

Novel mRNA vaccines have been developed and were first distributed to high-risk individuals (including smokers) in the United States starting in December 2020 to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Over one-half of the U.S. adult population has received at least 1 dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, but many others have reported hesitation about becoming vaccinated. We examined COVID-19 vaccine uptake and hesitancy from a convenience sample of Pennsylvanian adult smokers in April 2021, approximately 3 months after tobacco users were eligible to receive vaccination in the state. Participants (n = 231) were 23.4% male, 90.5% white, and had a mean age of 48.1 (SD = 11.9) years. All participants were current tobacco users, with the majority reporting current cigarette smoking (90.9%) with an average of 16 (SD = 8.1) cigarettes smoked per day. Nearly 60% (n = 137) reported receiving at least 1 dose of the vaccine and of those who did not (n = 94), 84% (n = 79) said they were somewhat or very unlikely to get a vaccine. Those who were unvaccinated were more likely to not consume news about COVID-19 (chi-square P-value < .01) and less likely to believe government news sources as reliable information for COVID-19 (chi-square P-value < .01). Qualitative responses among those who were vaccine hesitant expressed concerns about the lack of research on the vaccine, distrust of the safety of the vaccine, and fears about side effects. Understanding vaccine hesitancy among tobacco users can help develop targeted communication strategies and directly address concerns to promote vaccination among this population who may be at an increased risk of severe complications from COVID-19.

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 Ethnic and minority group differences in engagement with COVID-19 vaccination programmes – at Pandemic Pace; when vaccine confidence in mass rollout meets local vaccine hesitancy

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
John A. Reid ◽  
Mzwandile A. Mabhala
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Ethnic Minorities ◽  
Social Systems ◽  
Minority Group ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Vaccine Confidence ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Roll Out

AbstractIsrael, the UK, the USA, and some other wealthier countries lead in the implementation of COVID-19 vaccine mass vaccination programmes. Evidence from these countries indicates that their ethnic minorities could be as disproportionately disadvantaged in COVID-19 vaccines roll-out as they were affected by COVID-19-related serious illnesses. Their disadvantage is linked to their lower social status and fewer social goods compared with dominant population groups.Albeit limited by methodology, early studies attribute lower uptake of COVID-19 amongst ethnic minorities to the wider determinants of vaccine uptake, hesitancy or lack of vaccine confidence, including lower levels of trust and greater concerns about vaccine safety. Early sentinel studies are needed in all early adopter countries.One emerging theme among those of reproductive age in minority communities concerns a worry regarding COVID-19 vaccine’s potential adverse effect on fertility. Respected professional groups reassure this is not a credible rationale. Drug and vaccine regulators use understandable, cautious and conditional language in emergency licencing of new gene-based vaccines. Technical assessments on whether there is any potential genotoxicity or reproductive toxicity should be more emphatic.From a public health perspective, sentinel studies should identify such community concerns and act early to produce convincing explanations and evidence. Local public health workforces need to be diverse, multiskilled, and able to engage well with minorities and vulnerable groups. The local Directors of Public Health in the UK are based in each local government area and have a remit and opportunity to stimulate speedy action to increase vaccine uptake.During the rapid Pandemic Pace of the vaccines roll-out, extra efforts to minimise uptake variations are likely to achieve improvements in the next year or two. We expect variations will not disappear however, given that underlying inequalities persist in less inclusive social systems.

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