COVID-19 vaccination among different types of US Healthcare Personnel

Matthew Z Dudley; Holly B Schuh; Jana Shaw; Rajiv N Rimal; Steven A Harvey; Kristian R Balgobin; Alexander J Zapf; Daniel A Salmon

doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.01.030

COVID-19 vaccination among different types of US Healthcare Personnel

Vaccine. 2023 Feb 17;41(8):1471-1479. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.01.030. Epub 2023 Jan 20.

Authors

Matthew Z Dudley¹, Holly B Schuh², Jana Shaw³, Rajiv N Rimal⁴, Steven A Harvey⁵, Kristian R Balgobin⁴, Alexander J Zapf⁵, Daniel A Salmon⁶

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Vaccine Safety, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States; Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States. Electronic address: mattdudley@jhu.edu.
² Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States.
³ Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, United States.
⁴ Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, United States.
⁵ Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States.
⁶ Institute for Vaccine Safety, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States; Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States; Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, United States.

Abstract

Background: Increasing vaccine coverage remains the best way to control the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare personnel (HCP) have long been the most credible and frequently used source of vaccine information for the public, and an HCP recommendation is a strong predictor of vaccination.

Methods: A survey of HCP was conducted in September 2021 via a double opt-in network panel. Responses to survey items were summarized and stratified by HCP type and adjusted logistic regression models were fitted.

Results: >94% of the 1074 HCP surveyed reported receiving at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine or intending to soon, with vaccinating most common among pediatricians (98%), followed by family medicine doctors (96%), pharmacists (94%), and nurses/nurse practitioners/physician assistants (88%). HCP with high trust in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had 26 times the odds of vaccinating of HCP with low trust (95%CI: 9, 74). Nearly half of unvaccinated HCP (47%) were concerned about side effects, and one third of unvaccinated HCP (33%) were concerned the vaccine was developed too quickly. About three quarters of HCP reported strongly recommending the Pfizer-BioNTech (75%) and Moderna (70%) vaccines to their patients, compared to about one quarter (24%) strongly recommending Johnson & Johnson.

Conclusions: Although most HCP are vaccinated against COVID-19 and strongly recommend vaccination to their patients, some harbor similar concerns to the public. Additional resources - regularly updated to explain the progressing scientific landscape and address ever evolving public concerns - are needed to further improve vaccine coverage among HCP and aid them in supporting the decision-making of their patients.

Keywords: COVID-19; COVID-19 vaccines; Health Personnel; Patient Acceptance of Health Care.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

COVID-19 Vaccines
COVID-19* / prevention & control
Delivery of Health Care
Health Personnel
Humans
Influenza Vaccines*
Influenza, Human* / prevention & control
Pandemics
Vaccination

Substances

Influenza Vaccines
COVID-19 Vaccines