Factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine intent among Latino SNAP participants in Southern California

Abstract

Background COVID-19 is significantly impacting the health and well-being of the country, particularly for ethnic minority populations and low-income groups. Our goal was to determine COVID-19 vaccination intent in a low-income, Latino population receiving aid from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Southern California, and identify contributing factors and concerns. Methods A cross-sectional, mixed-methods survey was conducted among participants in the Southern California Nutrition Incentives Program (¡Más Fresco! More Fresh). Only Latino respondents were included in this analysis. Primary outcome was vaccine intent trichotomized into: “definitely/likely yes”, “not sure/don’t know”, and “definitely/likely not.” Results The majority of participants (n = 486) were female (93%), Spanish speaking (74%), with a median age of 40 years (IQR = 13). Approximately half (48%) reported they would get a COVID-19 vaccine, 39% were unsure, and 13% reported “definitely/likely not”. In the multivariable multinomial logistic regression model, participants with a household member with a COVID-19 health risk factor were more likely to be unsure about getting the vaccine. Participants who were primarily English speaking, did not receive the influenza vaccine last season, and reported not reading or talking about COVID-19 were more likely to report not intending to receive the vaccine. Many respondents were concerned about “side effects and ingredients”, and did not trust the vaccine development process, particularly with how fast it happened. Conclusion Low-income Latinos in Southern California were generally hesitant to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Culturally sensitive vaccine promotion campaigns need to address the concerns of minority populations who experience increased morbidity and mortality from COVID-19.

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Economically Marginalized Hispanic Parents of Children under Five Years in the United States

“…Consistent with prior studies on parental health beliefs, resistant parents were more likely than the unsure and accepting parents to hold COVID-19 vaccine misconceptions, believe their child was not susceptible to infection, that COVID-19 symptoms would be less severe, that the vaccine would be harmful to their child and unnecessary, and hold higher levels of general vaccine mistrust [ 9 , 12 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 54 ]. COVID-19 vaccine misinformation, conspiracy theories and hoaxes have been pervasive in the general mass media as well as in social media posts specifically targeting Hispanic communities [ 55 , 56 , 57 ].…”

“…In national studies that included samples of Hispanic respondents, application of the health beliefs model (HBM) and related theories of planned health behaviors [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ] indicate that the most consistent predictors of parental intentions for COVID-19 vaccine uptake for children were misinformation, underestimation of disease severity and susceptibility, distrust of vaccine safety and efficacy, a lack of community support for vaccinating children against infection [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ], lower income and education, and lack of private insurance [ 17 , 18 , 21 , 22 ]. These factors have also been identified among Hispanic parents as predictive of routine and influenza pediatric vaccination intent [ 21 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ].…”

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Maternal and Child COVID-19 Vaccination Intent Among Pregnant and Postpartum Women in the USA (April–June 2020): an Application of Health Belief Model

“…Similar to pregnant women, postpartum women reporting ever receiving an influenza vaccine remained a statistically significant predictor of maternal and child COVID-19 vaccination intent in all adjusted models which is consistent with prior studies [17,34,37,67]. Overall, the findings from this study suggest that targeting women with influenza vaccination history may be a crucial part of increasing vaccination uptake among pregnant and postpartum women regardless of race/ethnicity [70,71]. These findings also have implications for researcher and clinicians considering approaches that involve coadministration of influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations.…”

Reaching late adopters: factors influencing COVID-19 vaccination of Marshallese and Hispanic adults

“…Both infertility and concerns about a chip being implanted were reported in another qualitative study with Hispanic families [ 25 ], although the study did not report if participants were vaccinated. Scott and colleagues (2022) found that fear of chip insertion was a barrier to vaccination among Hispanic females; yet approximately half of the study participants reported intent to vaccinate against COVID-19 [ 26 ]. Concerns about the safety and myths and misconceptions of the COVID-19 vaccine were the top two reasons that unvaccinated participants were hesitant in a national survey with 225 Hispanic adults [ 27 ].…”