Attitudes Toward COVID-19 Vaccination Among Behavioral Health Service Clients

Abstract

Objective: The authors examined attitudes toward and uptake of COVID-19 vaccination among individuals with serious mental illness or substance use disorder.

Methods: Clients of a community mental health center in Texas (N=50) participated in semistructured, in-person interviews regarding their COVID-19 vaccination decision. Thematic analysis was used to analyze interview data.

Results: Most participants (68%) reported receipt of at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose. Participants were motivated to get vaccinated mostly by a desire to protect themselves or others. Convenience of vaccination location and access to free vaccination facilitated vaccine uptake. However, concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine were common among both vaccinated and unvaccinated participants and could be reinforced or overcome by social network influences.

Conclusions: Fear, uncertainty, and conflicting vaccine information were common themes in the COVID-19 vaccination decisions of behavioral health service clients. Improving access to information from trusted sources, including health care providers, could help to overcome vaccine concerns in this population.

Keywords: COVID-19; Community mental health centers; Mental illness; fear; hesitancy; vaccination.