Characteristics and perceptions associated with COVID‐19 vaccination hesitancy among pregnant and postpartum individuals: A cross‐sectional study

Abstract

Objective: To assess the frequency and associated characteristics of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among pregnant and postpartum individuals.

Association of initial COVID‐19 vaccine hesitancy with subsequent vaccination among pregnant and postpartum individuals

“…We conducted a follow‐up survey of vaccination status for 6 months after an initial cross‐sectional assessment of COVID‐19 vaccine hesitancy among pregnant or postpartum individuals receiving prenatal and postpartum care at a Midwestern academic tertiary‐care centre in the USA. As previously described, 4 we initially enrolled pregnant and postpartum individuals from 22 March 2021 to 2 April 2021 (hereafter referred to as baseline), which was concurrent with the period of initial eligibility of pregnant individuals for the COVID‐19 vaccine in Ohio 19 . At follow‐up, we contacted all previously enrolled participants, starting at 3 months and ending at 6 months after the initial survey (with a median duration from enrolment to follow‐up of 17 weeks) from 29 June 2021 to 20 November 2021.…”

“…These findings with regards to the importance of provider recommendations and patient perceptions are consistent with prior studies assessing vaccination uptake in pregnancy. 4,28,29 Further interventions that address communication to improve vaccine awareness and address safety data among pregnant and postpartum individuals and their healthcare providers are needed. 30 Factors that affect COVID-19 vaccination in the peripartum period include adverse social determinants of health, including minority race and ethnicity, low educational attainment and lack of access to quality health care.…”

“…31 In the current study, we found many of the characteristics associated with a lower likelihood of vaccination, including non-Hispanic black race/ethnicity, enrolment in public health insurance, lower educational status and lack of employment, were previously identified as predictors of vaccine hesitancy at baseline in this cohort. 4 Individuals with these characteristics may face structural barriers to accessing healthcare services and adverse social determinants of health that are associated with a higher risk of complications from COVID-19. 8 Whether interventions that address social determinants of health affect COVID-19 vaccination uptake in the peripartum period should be studied.…”

“…Vaccination in pregnancy for influenza and pertussis is common practice to prevent maternal and neonatal morbidity 3 . Over the past 12 months since vaccines against the SARS‐CoV‐2 virus first became available, studies have demonstrated a higher frequency of vaccine hesitancy and a lower frequency of vaccination among pregnant individuals, compared with their non‐pregnant counterparts of reproductive age 4,5,6 . This disparity in vaccination is of public health importance because pregnant individuals with COVID‐19 are at a higher risk of maternal and obstetric complications compared with those without COVID‐19 7–10 …”

COVID-19 Vaccination Status among Pregnant and Postpartum Women—A Cross-Sectional Study on More Than 1000 Individuals

“…Various viral infections, which pregnant women are susceptible to, may contribute to unfavorable pregnancy outcomes through numerous molecular mechanisms [ 2 , 3 ]. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in pregnant women has been linked not only to an increased risk of obstetric complications such as preterm birth and stillbirth but also to hospital and intensive care unit admissions, need for mechanical ventilation, and death, compared to non-pregnant age-matched group [ 4 , 5 ]. This risk can be further multiplied by the presence of chronic comorbidities [ 5 ].…”