Strategies to reduce COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among pregnant individuals: Data from a prospective survey of unvaccinated pregnant women

Abstract

Objective: To explore strategies that could reduce coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine hesitancy in pregnancy.

Methods: In 2021, the authors conducted a survey of pregnant women assessing attitudes and beliefs regarding COVID-19 vaccination. The present analysis reviewed trusted sources of information about COVID-19 vaccination that could reduce vaccine hesitancy among pregnant respondents.

Results: A total of 295 surveys were analyzed. Using 10-point Likert scales, intentions to accept COVID-19 vaccine were split between individuals with low (n = 126, 43%) and high (n = 141, 48%) intentions to receive the vaccine, with only a small percentage of women having midrange vaccination intentions (n = 28, 10%). When asked what would reduce their COVID-19 vaccine concerns, published data was the leading answer in both low (46.2%) and medium (35.7%) intention groups followed by personally knowing someone who got vaccinated during pregnancy (21.0% and 28.6% for low and medium groups, respectively). In contrast, an obstetrician's recommendation was the most common answer in the group with high intention to vaccinate (37.2%). Knowing someone who received the vaccine in pregnancy was the leading response for reducing concerns of COVID-19 vaccination among Black respondents.

Conclusion: The survey identified several innovative and culturally specific approaches to address vaccine confidence and complacency and improve vaccine uptake in pregnant people.

Keywords: COVID-19 vaccine; SARS-CoV-2; health disparities pregnancy; vaccine hesitancy.