Covid-19 vaccine acceptance and associated factors among pregnant women in Pennsylvania 2020

Abstract

Data on factors associated with vaccine acceptance among pregnant women are critical to the rapid scale up of interventions to improve vaccine uptake. When COVID-19 vaccines were still in the testing phases of research, we surveyed pregnant women accessing prenatal care at an academic medical institution in Central Pennsylvania, United States to examine factors associated with vaccine acceptance. Willingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccine once a vaccine became available was asked as part of an ongoing study on the COVID-19 pandemic and pregnancy (n=196). Overall, 65% of women reported they would be willing or somewhat willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Women who had received an influenza vaccine within the past year were more likely to be willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine than women who had never received an influenza vaccine or those who received it over one year ago (aOR 4.82; 95% CI 2.17, 10.72). Similarly, women who were employed full-time were more willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine than women who were not employed full time (aOR 2.22; 95% CI 1.02, 4.81), and women who reported feeling overloaded were more willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine than women who did not feel overloaded (aOR 2.18; 95% CI 1.02, 4.68). Our findings support the need to increase vaccination education among pregnant women before vaccines are rolled out, especially those who have not received an influenza vaccine within the past year. Improved understanding of willingness to vaccinate among pregnant women will improve future pandemic responses and current vaccination efforts.

Emotional Reaction to the First Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine: Postvaccination Decline in Anxiety and Stress among Anxious Individuals and Increase among Individuals with Normal Prevaccination Anxiety Levels

“…Gender is known to exert significant effects on emotional processing and related emotional and behavioral consequences [ 54 , 55 ]. Gender and education are also reported to be associated with vaccine hesitancy/anxiety [ 6 , 23 , 24 , 40 , 56 ]. Being previously infected with COVID-19 is a reported predictor of vaccine hesitancy [ 24 , 39 ].…”

COVID-19 vaccination among pregnant people in the United States: a systematic review

“…Pregnant people's receipt of the influenza vaccine in the previous year and communication with a medical professional about vaccines were associated with increased likelihood of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. 45,52,55 In contrast, pregnant people's prior refusal of the seasonal influenza vaccine, 47,54 lack of provider counseling, 50 younger age, 45,48 African American race, 47,48,50,53,54 Hispanic ethnicity, 47,48,50,54 and low education 50 were associated with refusal of vaccination. Frequently cited concerns included safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination, fears of birth defects, unknown long-term health effects on children, and risk of pregnancy loss.…”

“…Vaccine hesitant pregnant people were concerned about side effects, sickness, allergy to the vaccine, and a perception that the vaccine is unnecessary. 46 A study reported 65% vaccine acceptance among pregnant people; this study had a sample consisting of people with higher education and greater income 55 in comparison to other studies. 46,47,50 The vaccine acceptance rate did not improve after the COVID-19 vaccine became available in the U.S. Studies conducted after the vaccine became available showed acceptance rates of 3%, 51 16.30%, 48 35.70%, 50 44.30%, 49 and 58.30%.…”

“…Eleven of the 32 (34%) studies (Figure 2) examined pregnant people's acceptance or uptake of COVID-19 vaccination. [46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56] Overall, COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rates ranged between 3% and 65%. Studies conducted before the COVID-19 vaccine became available in the U.S. showed that 41% 54 and 47.80% 46 of pregnant people would be interested in receiving it.…”

COVID-19 vaccine uptake and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Debre Tabor public health institutions: A cross-sectional study

“…Vaccination also builds immunity that offers protection for the fetus or neonate against COVID-19 via passive transplacental transfer of antibodies from the immunized mother to the fetus during pregnancy or to the newborn during lactation ( 15 , 27 ). In light of the beneficial role of the vaccine for the mother, fetus, and baby with few or no adverse effects, major guidelines indicate that pregnant women are eligible for and can get any of the WHO approved COVID-19 vaccines and recommend COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy ( 14 , 15 , 20 , 28 ). Consequently, many countries around the world, including Ethiopia, nowadays strongly advise COVID-19 vaccination for people who are pregnant, trying to get pregnant now, or might become pregnant in the future to protect them from COVID-19 ( 20 , 29 – 31 ).…”