Reasons for COVID-19 vaccine refusal among people incarcerated in Canadian federal prisons.
PLoS One
; 17(3): e0264145, 2022.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1896446
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Vaccine uptake rates have been historically low in correctional settings. To better understand vaccine hesitancy in these high-risk settings, we explored reasons for COVID-19 vaccine refusal among people in federal prisons.METHODS:
Three maximum security all-male federal prisons in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario (Canada) were chosen, representing prisons with the highest proportions of COVID-19 vaccine refusal. Using a qualitative descriptive design and purposive sampling, individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with incarcerated people who had previously refused at least one COVID-19 vaccine until data saturation was achieved. An inductive-deductive thematic analysis of audio-recorded interview transcripts was conducted using the Conceptual Model of Vaccine Hesitancy.RESULTS:
Between May 19-July 8, 2021, 14 participants were interviewed (median age 30 years; n = 7 Indigenous, n = 4 visible minority, n = 3 White). Individual-, interpersonal-, and system-level factors were identified. Three were particularly relevant to the correctionalsetting:
1) Risk perception participants perceived that they were at lower risk of COVID-19 due to restricted visits and interactions; 2) Health care services in prison participants reported feeling "punished" and stigmatized due to strict COVID-19 restrictions, and failed to identify personal benefits of vaccination due to the lack of incentives; 3) Universal distrust participants expressed distrust in prison employees, including health care providers.INTERPRETATION:
Reasons for vaccine refusal among people in prison are multifaceted. Educational interventions could seek to address COVID-19 risk misconceptions in prison settings. However, impact may be limited if trust is not fostered and if incentives are not considered in vaccine promotion.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Prisoners
/
Vaccination Refusal
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Qualitative research
Topics:
Vaccines
Limits:
Adult
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
/
Young adult
Country/Region as subject:
North America
Language:
English
Journal:
PLoS One
Journal subject:
Science
/
Medicine
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Journal.pone.0264145
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