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Understanding Influenza and SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Hesitancy in Racial and Ethnic Minority Caregivers

  • Shannon H. Baumer-Mouradian
  • , Rebecca J. Hart
  • , Alexis Visotcky
  • , Raphael Fraser
  • , Swathi Prasad
  • , Michael Levas
  • , Mark Nimmer
  • , David C. Brousseau
  • Medical College of Wisconsin
  • University of Louisville

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

(1) Background: We compared influenza and SARS-CoV-2 vaccine hesitancy levels in Black, Hispanic, and White parents/caregivers and identified barriers and facilitators to vaccine acceptance. (2) Methods: This was a mixed methods study. A cross-sectional survey of ED caregivers presenting with children 6mo–18yo compared vaccine hesitancy levels among diverse caregivers. Six focus groups of survey participants, stratified by caregiver race/ethnicity and caregiver intent to receive SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, assessed facilitators and barriers of vaccination, with thematic coding using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). (3) Results: Surveys (n = 589) revealed Black caregivers had significantly higher vaccine hesitancy rates than White caregivers for pediatric influenza (42% versus 21%) and SARS-CoV-2 (63% versus 36%; both p < 0.05). Hispanic caregivers were more hesitant than White caregivers (37% flu and 58% SARS-CoV-2), but this was not significant. Qualitative analysis (n = 23 caregivers) identified barriers including vaccine side effects, lack of necessity, inadequate data/science, and distrust. Facilitators included vaccine convenience, fear of illness, and desire to protect others. (4) Conclusions: Minority caregivers reported higher levels of vaccine hesitancy for influenza and SARS-CoV-2. We identified vaccine facilitators and barriers inclusive of Black and Hispanic caregivers, which may guide interventions designed to equitably improve acceptance of pediatric vaccines.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1968
JournalVaccines
Volume10
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2022

Keywords

  • SARS-CoV-2
  • emergency medicine
  • healthy equity
  • influenza
  • vaccines/immunizations

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