Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic continues to place an inordinate burden on U.S. population health, and vaccination is the most powerful tool for curbing SARS-CoV-2 transmission, saving lives, and promoting economic recovery. However, much of the U.S. population remains hesitant to get vaccinated against COVID-19, despite having access to these life-saving vaccines. This study's objective was to examine the demographic characteristics, experiences, and disease- and vaccine-related risk perceptions that influence an individual's decision to adhere to vaccine recommendations for COVID-19. STUDY DESIGN: A telephone survey was performed with a convenience sample of 57 participants. METHODS: This mixed-methods study collected quantitative and qualitative responses about seasonal influenza and COVID-19 vaccine intentions to compare vaccine hesitancies between a novel and routine vaccine. RESULTS: The primary facilitators of uptake for the COVID-19 vaccine were personal protection, protecting others, preserving public health, and general vaccine confidence. Concerns about vaccine side effects, concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine trials, misinformation about vaccination, personal aversions to the vaccine, general distrust in vaccination, complacency, and distrust in government were the primary barriers to vaccine uptake. Race was also associated with COVID-19 vaccine intentions. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this research have been condensed into four recommendations designed to optimize public health messaging around the COVID-19 vaccine and maximize future vaccine uptake.