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. 2022 Aug 17;10(8):1331.
doi: 10.3390/vaccines10081331.

Racial/Ethnic Variances in COVID-19 Inoculation among Southern California Healthcare Workers

Alex Dubov  1 , Brian J Distelberg  1 , Jacinda C Abdul-Mutakabbir  2 , Bridgette Peteet  1 , Lisa Roberts  3 , Susanne B Montgomery  1 , Nicholas Rockwood  1 , Pranjal Patel  4 , Steven Shoptaw  5 , Ara A Chrissian  4
Affiliations

Racial/Ethnic Variances in COVID-19 Inoculation among Southern California Healthcare Workers

Alex Dubov et al. Vaccines (Basel). .

Abstract

Healthcare workers (HCWs) from minoritized communities are a critical partner in moving vaccine-hesitant populations toward vaccination, yet a significant number of these HCWs are delaying or deciding against their own COVID-19 vaccinations. Our study aims to provide a more nuanced understanding of vaccine hesitancy among racially and ethnically minoritized HCWs and to describe factors associated with vaccine non-acceptance. Analysis of a sub-sample of racially and ethnically minoritized HCWs (N = 1131), who participated in a cross-sectional study at two large Southern California medical centers, was conducted. Participants completed an online survey consisting of demographics, work setting and clinical role, influenza vaccination history, COVID-19 knowledge, beliefs, personal COVID-19 exposure, diagnosis, and impact on those closest to them. While overall most HCWs were vaccinated (84%), 28% of Black, 19% of Hispanic, and 8% of Asian American HCWs were vaccine-hesitant. Age, education level, occupation, history of COVID-19, and COVID-19 related knowledge were predictive of vaccine hesitancy. We found significant variations in COVID-19 related knowledge and reasons for vaccine hesitancy among Black (governmental mistrust), Hispanic (preference for physiological immunity), and Asian-American HCWs (concern about side effects) who were vaccine-hesitant or not. Our findings highlight racial and ethnic differences in vaccine-hesitancy and barriers to vaccination among HCWs of color. This study indicates the necessity of targeted interventions to reduce vaccine hesitancy that are mindful of the disparities in knowledge and access and differences between and among racial and ethnic groups.

Keywords: COVID-19 knowledge; COVID-19 pandemic; booster; healthcare professionals; racial/ethnic groups; targeted interventions; vaccine acceptance; vaccine hesitancy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funder had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Ethnic variations in reasons given by health care workers for COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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