Abstract
INTRODUCTION: After its emergence in China, the COVID‐19 pandemic has spread rapidly around the world, affecting all of our lives. Over the past few months, different vaccines have been issued to the public following FDA approval. Since their release, the number of COVID‐19 cases in the United States have gone down significantly. However, there is a long way to go until the eradication of the virus. There has also been a strong emergence of delta variants across the world, which (for the most part) can still be partially blocked by vaccines. This is why it is so important everyone gets a vaccine for COVID‐19. PURPOSE: The purpose of this project was to determine the public’s opinion of COVID‐19 and the COVID‐19 vaccines, while also determining correlation between different demographics and these opinions. HYPOTHESIS: There are many different factors within various demographics that cause a correlation to a certain belief regarding COVID‐19 and COVID‐19 vaccines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted in collaboration with Loyola University Chicago. Survey questions about COVID‐19 and COVID‐19 vaccinations have been sent electronically to the respondents. Initial results based on a pilot study where the answers from 250 respondents were compiled. Basic descriptive statistics were used to characterize the sample and study variables. Univariate analysis of associations between categorical variables and vaccination intent and acceptance were assessed by chi‐square statistics. Multivariate analysis performed by regression analysis to determine significant independent predictors. A p‐value of less than 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance; all tests were 2‐tailed. RESULTS: In our study population vaccine willingness have been found as 94,4%, the rate of receiving at least one dose of vaccination have been found as 90,8%. In univariate analysis, gender, believing that vaccinations protect others and having enough information about safety and efficacy of vaccines have been found significant factors for vaccine willingness. For receiving at least one dose of vaccination, gender, previous COVID‐19 infection, believing that vaccinations protect others, having enough information about safety and efficacy of vaccines, the degree of COVID‐19 related effects on person’s life, knowledge that COVID‐19 can cause blood clots and the degree of concerns about delta variant have been found significant factors for vaccine willingness. In multivariate analysis only believing that vaccinations protect others have been found as an independent factor for vaccine willingness. For receiving at least one dose of vaccination, believing that vaccinations protect others, the degree of COVID‐19 related effects on person’s life and having enough information about safety and efficacy of vaccines have been found independent factors in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: There are several vaccines currently available in the United States. All of these vaccines provide immunity against COVID‐19 and its variants which have been identified in 2020 and 2021. The level of immunity and the reported adverse events vary with each of the vaccines. Despite minor issues the vaccination outweighs the benefits and provides a clear approach to control this pandemic.