ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Hospitalization and mortality rates from COVID-19 infection are disproportionately higher in African Americans compared to non-Hispanic whites. It is unclear if recovery from COVID-19 infection confers longterm immunity. Therefore, a COVID-19 vaccine is urgently needed to potentially end the pandemic. However, the uptake of COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available will be important to effectively curb the spread of the infection. Historically, African American adults are less likely than non- Hispanic white adults to receive influenza, pneumococcal, and HPV vaccine. We evaluated the potential uptake rate of COVID-19 vaccine among African American patients who recovered from severe COVID-19 infection METHODS: African American patients that were hospitalized with severe COVID-19 infection in the medical ICU of Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta between April 1, 2020, and June 30, 2020, were asked to participate in the study after recovery and discharge from the hospital. All participants completed a questionnaire over the phone on their likelihood to accept the COVID-19 vaccine and factors impacting their decisions. Co-morbidities were extracted from the patients' charts in the electronic medical record system. MS Excel 2019 and R programming language were used for data management and analyses respectively. RESULTS: 48 patients completed the survey. 62% were males and the median age was 71.5 (interquartile range, 67-76;range, 29 - 77 years). 66% of the patients irrespective of co-morbidities stated they will not receive the COVID-19 vaccine when it is available. Reasons provided by participants for declining COVID-19 vaccination included fear of vaccinerelated side effects (61%), distrust of the pharmaceutical companies that make vaccines (58%), and uncertainty that the vaccine will be effective (42%). 75% of the participants stated they will be more likely to accept the vaccine if recommended by their primary care physicians or specialists. Only 8% stated they will accept the vaccine based on information from TV/radio ads or the internet. CONCLUSIONS: Direct recommendation of the COVID-19 vaccine by medical providers and focused education around the reasons highlighted in our study for potentially declining vaccination may improve vaccination coverage in this vulnerable population.