What is it about?
We surveyed three groups of individuals (essential non-healthcare workers, general healthcare workers, and correctional healthcare workers). We found surprisingly high portions of healthcare workers with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy/resistance, with 23% of correctional healthcare workers and 17% general healthcare workers (as compared to 12%) refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Current season flu vaccination, relying on employer for COVID-19 information, and living in the Midwest were all strongly associated with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among essential workers and general healthcare workers. Current season flu vaccination was also strongly associated with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among correctional healthcare workers. Potential mechanisms of vaccine hesitancy/resistance among healthcare workers involves low health literacy and employer mistrust.
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Why is it important?
Our findings are highly relevant as we try to reach COVID-19 vaccination goals in the US.
Perspectives
I hope that this article provides more insight into some of the factors that may influence essential workers and healthcare workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The populations we focused on, essential workers and healthcare workers, have been among the highest risk groups for COVID-19 infection, especially for healthcare workers who work in correctional institutions. It is crucial for healthcare workers to achieve high COVID-19 vaccination rates for the protection of themselves and for people, especially patients, around them. Healthcare workers in correctional settings are an especially important population to be vaccinated, because they work in closed environments filled with extremely vulnerable populations.
Nickolas Zaller
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: A pilot study on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers in the US, PLOS One, June 2022, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269320.
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