Low COVID-19 vaccine willingness among nursing home staff

Less than half of nursing home staff are willing to immediately take the vaccine for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and a few more are open to getting shots in the future, a recent study has found.

An anonymous online survey, conducted in Indiana, US, was delivered via a text message link to 23,232 working phone numbers. Vaccine willingness was assessed with the following question: “If a vaccine is approved for use by the FDA for COVID-19, will you be willing to get it as soon as it is available?” Those who answered in the negative were further asked if they would be open to getting the vaccine in the future.

Only 8,243 completed surveys were recorded, corresponding to a response rate of 33 percent. Forty-five percent of respondents said that they would receive an FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine once available. Of those who were not open to immediate vaccination, 44 percent would take it at a later date.

Overall, 69 percent considered ever taking the vaccine.

Concerns over side effects were the primary reason behind vaccine hesitancy (70 percent); health concerns, questions about effectiveness, and religious reasons were other roadblocks.

Staff older than 60 years of age, self-identified as white, and who were male were significantly more likely to agree to taking the vaccine (p<0.001).

“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,” the researchers said.