Examining the Association between Job and Demographic Characteristics and Vaccine Uptake among Long Term Care Facility Staff Early in the COVID-19 Pandemic Public
Fuks, Frances (Spring 2022)
Published
Abstract
Background: Long term care facilities (LTCF) have faced numerous challenges since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. LTCF staff and residents were prioritized for vaccine allocation; however, reports suggested many staff were reluctant, leading to low vaccine uptake rates. We evaluated the relationship between certain demographic and job-specific characteristics and vaccine hesitancy among staff working in a sample of LTCFs in Georgia.
Methods: Primary data collection occurred during site visits at 14 LTCFs between February and May, 2021. Consenting staff completed questionnaires of demographic and occupational information, including exposure to COVID-19 infections. Survey data were linked to two external dataset. First, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) case data to estimate facility-specific cumulative incidence of resident COVID-19 infection, and second community COVID-19 cases from Georgia Department of Public Health (GDPH) to estimate community burden of disease. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression were used to evaluate whether demographic, occupational characteristics, or LTCF characteristics were predictive of vaccine hesitancy.
Results: There were 447 vaccinated and 310 unvaccinated voluntary participants included in the study. Both demographic factors (age and race) occupational factors (job role) and LTCF factors (Cumulative incidence of resident COVID-19 infection) were associated with vaccine hesitance. Independent predictors of vaccine hesitance include job categories certified nursing assistants (CNAs) (aOR = 3.23) and Nurses (aOR= 2.22) compared to non-patient care or healthcare administration. Older staff were found to be less vaccine hesitant (60+, aOR = .36; 50-59, aOR= .41) compared to staff younger than 40.
Conclusions: Accounting for age, race, and amount of COVID-19 disease among facility residents, the most patient-facing job roles, specifically CNAs were least likely to have received the vaccine. Targeted messaging to these groups of workers is of paramount importance to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission in LTCF.
Table of Contents
Introduction..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................1
Background................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................2
Methods....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................8
Results.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................12
Discussion...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................15
References...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................19
Appendices..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................30
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Examining the Association between Job and Demographic Characteristics and Vaccine Uptake among Long Term Care Facility Staff Early in the COVID-19 Pandemic () | 2022-04-21 09:37:33 -0400 |
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