Willingness of Long‐Term Care Staff to Receive a COVID‐19 Vaccine: A Single State Survey

Abstract

Objectives To plan for coronavirus infectious disease 2019 (COVID‐19) vaccine distribution, the Indiana Department of Health surveyed nursing home and assisted living facility staff. Design Cross‐sectional analysis of an anonymous survey sent via text message link to personal cell phones and emails. Setting and Participants Nursing home and assisted living facility staff in Indiana. Measures Staff characteristics including age, gender, race, ethnicity, role in the facility, experience in long‐term care, and geographic location of facility were self‐reported along with prior infection and willingness to receive an approved vaccine as soon as it is available. Responses were weighted to represent staff statewide. Weighted frequencies and logit regression estimated characteristics associated with vaccine willingness. Results There were 8,243 responses to the survey. For nursing home staff (survey delivered via 23,232 working phone numbers), there was a 33% response rate). There were 2,372 (29%) in nurse aide or similar roles and 1,602 nurses providing direct clinical care (19%). Overall, 45% of respondents indicated they would receive an approved COVID‐19 vaccine as soon as available. Of those unwilling to take the vaccine when first available, 44% would consider in the future. Concerns about side effects was the primary reason for vaccine hesitancy (70%). Characteristics associated with increased willingness were age over 60, male, and white race (P < .0001). No statistically significant differences were observed among staff self‐reporting prior SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Conclusions and Implications The willingness to receive the COVID‐19 vaccine immediately or in the future may be as high as 69%, but varies among subgroups of nursing home staff which has implications for distribution. Educating staff on the vaccine may be critical for increasing uptake. Widespread vaccination holds the promise of protection against serious illness and death and a return of visitors and activities that support improved quality of life. This promise will not be realized without strong uptake of the vaccines.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in care home staff: a survey of Liverpool care homes

“…An American study of 11,460 care homes found only 37.5% of staff members had received a COVID-19 vaccine, compared to 77.8% of their residents [12]. Only one study has investigated COVID-19 hesitancy levels in care home staff (in Indiana, USA) [13]. In this study, 36% were reluctant, with the main barrier being concerns about side effects.…”

COVID-19 Vaccination Willingness among Chinese Adults under the Free Vaccination Policy

“…Using an online survey of American adults, Reiter et al found that participants were more likely to get vaccinated when they perceived a higher likelihood of getting a COVID-19 infection in the future, perceived a heightened severity of COVID-19 infection and perceived greater effectiveness in a COVID-19 vaccine; they were less likely to get vaccinated when they perceived higher potential vaccine harm [5]. Several studies have also been carried out on special populations, such as healthcare workers, long-term care staff and caregivers, which found that concerns about vaccine safety, side effects and effectiveness were the primary reasons for vaccine hesitancy [7,[10][11][12][13]. A Chinese national online survey found that participants that perceived the benefits and were unconcerned about the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines had the highest intention to vaccinate [6].…”

Willingness for COVID-19 Vaccination and Influencing factors in Nurses from Tangshan City, China: A Cross-sectional Study

“…Moreover, another study by Verger et al reported that 48.6% of the medical staff would de nitely be willing to undergo COVID-19 vaccination [20], while Unroe et al showed that 45% of the medical staff expressed willingness for COVID-19 vaccination [12]. Compared to the aforementioned studies focusing on foreign medical staff, the current found relatively higher willingness for vaccination among medical staff in China.…”

“…The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly placed a considerable burden on the global health care system [10]. Medical workers, especially nurses who most frequently come in contact with patients, are at high risk for COVID-19 infection [11,12]. Health personnel immunisation can be an approach to reduce the spread of pathogens and reduce personnel and labour costs during the pandemic [13].…”