Perceptions of the COVID-19 Vaccine Amongst Health Care Workers in a Southeast Michigan Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Survey

ABSTRACT

Study Objectives: The new coronavirus that emerged in Wuhan, China was declared a global pandemic in March 2020 sparking a worldwide effort to find a vaccine that could effectively prevent continued spread of the virus. The Gallup’s tracking poll findings from 9/16/2020 to 9/29/2020 showed that 63% of Americans would be agreeable to being vaccinated if an FDA-approved vaccine were available to them at no cost. A survey conducted in France from March to July 2020 to determine COVID-19 vaccine acceptance specifically amongst health care workers (HCW) revealed that 75% of their HCWs intended to be vaccinated. Our literature search however did not yield studies assessing the acceptability of a COVID-19 vaccine amongst HCWs, specifically in the United States. The aim of this study was to determine COVID-19 vaccination rates amongst HCWs within a single hospital, any differences between HCWs acceptability of the vaccine, and which factors were most important in their decision-making. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study of HCWs at Ascension Macomb-Oakland Hospital was conducted in February 2021 – March 2021 soon after vaccines became available at the hospital. A SurveyMonkey was mass-distributed by email to HCWs including doctors, nurses, administrators, pharmacists, technicians, and secretaries. Any HCW that was over the age of 18 years of age was eligible to participate. A series of 15 questions were asked in a multiple choice and scale format. Result: A total of 574 out of the ∼2900 HCWs completed the survey. Of these, 487 (84.8%) either accepted or intended to get vaccinated within the next 3 months. 62 (10.8%) would decline the vaccine over the next 3 months and 25 (4.4%) remained undecided. The mean age of respondents was 45. The majority of surveys were completed by females (75.7%). The mean age of HCWs willing to accept the vaccine was greater compared to those who declined the vaccine (40 years of age vs 46 years of age). There was a higher proportion of Democrats willing to accept the vaccine than those who declined the vaccine (27% vs 9.8%). The most important factors for those that decided to take the vaccine were protection of their own health;protection of health of patients, family, or friends;and trust in the science. The most important factors in those that either declined or were undecided about the vaccine were concern for safety profile and side effects of vaccine, uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of the vaccine, and the accelerated development of the vaccine. Conclusions: As one of the nation’s hotspots for the highest rates of positive COVID-19 cases and deaths, a survey to assess acceptability of a COVID-19 vaccine showed that a majority of HCWs had either taken or planned to take the vaccine. HCWs background in science and the proximity and frequency in which they work with COVID-19+ patients were felt to account for the difference in vaccination rates between the general public and HCWs.