COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Clinical Health Care Workers (HCWs) in Four Major Healthcare Systems in Metro Atlanta Public
Farrque, Mirza (Spring 2022)
Published
Abstract
Background: Since COVID-19 vaccines were approved for emergency use in late 2020, they
remain the most effective known preventive measure for fighting the current pandemic. Several
studies have highlighted COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the general population; however, little
is known about the nature and extent of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in healthcare workers
(HCWs) in Georgia. This current study assessed the prevalence and risk factors of COVID-19
vaccine hesitancy among clinical HCWs in four healthcare systems in metro Atlanta.
Method: The study included demographic and COVID-19 vaccination-related data collected
from clinical HCWs. Data was collected through an anonymous cross-sectional survey using
Qualtrics via email to all HCWs in May-June 2021. We estimated the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy
across clinical healthcare roles and assessed the predictors using a logistic regression
model. We also examined the perception and reasons for vaccine hesitancy among vaccine-hesitant
HCWs. All analyses were done in SAS 9.4 and statistical significance was assumed at a
0.05 level.
Results: A total of 3373 clinical HCWs were surveyed in this study with a response rate of
approximately 18%. Overall, 9.7% of clinical HCWs were vaccine-hesitant. Physicians were the
least vaccine-hesitant (1.8%), whereas paramedics (29.1%), medical/nursing assistants (14.6%),
nurses (13.4%), and technologists (13.4%) were the most vaccine-hesitant groups. About half of
the vaccine-hesitant clinical HCWs were nurses. Factors that were positively associated with
vaccine-hesitancy included young age, previous COVID-19 infection, and children under 18
years at home. Higher education, Asian race, Hispanic ethnicity, and having a family member
with critical COVID-19 were negatively associated with vaccine-hesitancy. Among all
respondents, 54% doubted its effectiveness, 30% were concerned about side effects, and 40% did
not agree to mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for HCWs. Among the vaccine-hesitant HCWs,
the top concerns were side effects (45%), limited knowledge (18%), and wanting more people to
get vaccinated (26%).
Conclusion: Vaccine hesitancy among clinical HCWs was highest among younger and less
educated HCWs. A considerable proportion of HCWs had negative perceptions of COVID-19
vaccines and documented less confidence in getting this. Therefore, targeted interventions such
as information leaflets, posters, or regular plenary presentations are needed to improve vaccine
uptake among HCWs.
Table of Contents
Chapter-1: Introduction ..........................................................................................................1-6
Chapter-2: Literature review ....................................................................................................7-11
Chapter-3: Methodology .........................................................................................................12-26
Chapter-4: Results ................................................................................................................. 27-48
Chapter-5: Discussion ............................................................................................................ 49-51
References .............................................................................................................................52-55
Appendix ...............................................................................................................................56-71
About this Master's Thesis
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