Authors
Meghan Herring, Kimberly Groover, and Khaila Prather, Abt Global; Ashley L. Fowlkes, Kimberly Nguyen, and Julie Mayo Lamberte, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Karen Lutrick, Patrick Rivers, and Joel Parker, College of Medicine, University of Arizona; Zoe Baccam, College of Public Health, University of Arizona; Holly Groom and Allison L. Naleway, Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Northwest; Manjusha Gaglani and Kayan Dunnigan, Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Andrew Phillips, Matthew S. Thiese, and Sarang Yoon, School of Medicine, University of Utah; Harmony Tyner, St. Luke’s Hospital, Duluth, MN
A study of essential workers found that COVID-19 vaccine knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) responses predicted vaccine uptake and that perceptions of the COVID-19 vaccine can improve over time. Targeting messages about vaccine safety and effectiveness thus may increase vaccine uptake for reluctant and reachable participants.
Two surveys assessed a multi-center group of 4,803 essential workers who participate in the HEROES-RECOVER COVID-9 data-analysis projects. The surveys, three months apart, captured vaccine intention, prior SARS-CoV-2 positivity, and occupation, and their impact on vaccine uptake over time.
The first survey in December 2020 categorized participants as reluctant, reachable, or endorsers. Most (70%) were vaccine endorsers, 16% were reachable, and 14% were reluctant. By May 2021, 77% had received at least one vaccine dose. KAP responses strongly predicted vaccine uptake, particularly positive attitudes about safety and effectiveness. Participants with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection were 22% less likely to believe the COVID-19 vaccine was effective compared with uninfected participants and first responders were 42% less likely to believe in COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness.
In the second survey, reluctant and reachable participants’ positive scores modestly increased for perceived vaccine effectiveness (7% and 12%, respectively); 25% of initially reluctant participants received the COVID-19 vaccine.
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