Perceptions of COVID-19 vaccines among healthcare assistants: A national survey

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Creator
  • Niznik J.D.
    • Affiliation: Eshelman School of Pharmacy
  • Harrison J.
    • Other Affiliation: Brown University
  • White E.M.
    • Other Affiliation: Brown University
  • Syme M.
    • Other Affiliation: Hebrew SeniorLife
  • Hanson L.C.
    • Affiliation: School of Medicine
  • Kelley C.J.
    • Affiliation: School of Medicine
  • Porter L.
    • Other Affiliation: National Association of Health Care Assistants
  • Berry S.D.
    • Other Affiliation: Hebrew SeniorLife
Abstract
  • Background: Limited COVID-19 vaccination acceptance among healthcare assistants (HCAs) may adversely impact older adults, who are at increased risk for severe COVID-19 infections. Our study objective was to evaluate the perceptions of COVID-19 vaccine safety and efficacy in a sample of frontline HCAs, overall and by race and ethnicity. Methods: An online survey was conducted from December 2020 to January 2021 through national e-mail listserv and private Facebook page for the National Association of Health Care Assistants. Responses from 155 HCAs, including certified nursing assistants, home health aides, certified medical assistants, and certified medication technicians, were included. A 27-item survey asked questions about experiences and perceptions of COVID-19 vaccines, including how confident they were that COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective, and adequately tested in people of color. Multivariable regression was used to identify associations with confidence in COVID-19 vaccines. Results: We analyzed data from 155 completed responses. Among respondents, 23.9% were black and 8.4% Latino/a. Most respondents worked in the nursing home setting (53.5%), followed by hospitals (12.9%), assisted living (11.6%), and home care (10.3%). Respondents expressed low levels of confidence in COVID-19 vaccines, with fewer than 40% expressing at least moderate confidence in safety (38.1%), effectiveness (31.0%), or adequate testing in people of color (27.1%). Non-white respondents reported lower levels of confidence in adequate testing of vaccines compared to white respondents. In bivariate and adjusted models, respondents who gave more favorable scores of organizational leadership at their workplace expressed greater confidence in COVID-19 vaccines. Conclusion: Frontline HCAs reported low confidence in COVID-19 vaccines. Stronger organizational leadership in the workplace appears to be an important factor in influencing HCA's willingness to be vaccinated. Action is needed to enhance COVID-19 vaccine uptake in this important population with employers playing an important role to build vaccine confidence and trust among employees. © 2021 The American Geriatrics Society.
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Resource type
  • Article
Rights statement
  • In Copyright
Journal title
  • Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
Journal volume
  • 70
Journal issue
  • 1
Page start
  • 8
Page end
  • 18
Language
  • English
Funder
  • RADx Underserved Populations, (K24 AG070106)
  • National Institute on Aging, NIA
  • National Institutes of Health, NIH, (U54AG063546)
ISSN
  • 0002-8614
Publisher
  • John Wiley and Sons Inc

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