Affiliation:
1. Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY
2. Division of Rheumatology, Immunology, and Allergy, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.
Abstract
Abstract
Objective
The aim of this study was to measure COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among rheumatology outpatients from an early COVID-19 “hotspot” during the initial period of vaccine availability.
Methods
In March 2021, a Web-based survey was sent to 7505 adults seen at a Rheumatology Division in New York City. We evaluated characteristics associated with 3 categories of COVID-19 vaccination status: declined, undecided, and willing/already received. We used multinomial logistic regression models to calculate relative risk ratios assessing predictors of vaccination status.
Results
Among 2384 (32%) respondents (80% female, 87% White, 59% with systemic rheumatic disease), 2240 (94.0%) were willing/already received COVID-19 vaccination, 88 (3.7%) were undecided, and 56 (2.3%) declined. Compared with those willing/already vaccinated, those declining or undecided were younger, more likely identified as Black or Hispanic/Latinx, and had lower household income and educational attainment. Immunosuppressive medication use did not differ among groups. After multivariable adjustment, every 1-year increase in age was associated with a 0.96 lower relative risk of declining or being undecided versus willing/already vaccinated. Respondents identifying as Black versus White had a higher relative risk ratio of being undecided (4.29 [95% confidence interval, 1.96–9.36]), as did those identifying as Hispanic/Latinx versus non-Hispanic/non-Latinx (2.81 [95% confidence interval, 1.29–6.09]). Those declining vaccination were least likely to believe in general vaccine importance or the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Conclusions
Among rheumatology patients in New York City with and without systemic rheumatic disease, COVID-19 vaccine uptake was high after its initial availability. Sociodemographic but not medication-related factors were associated with vaccine hesitancy; these findings can inform future rheumatology vaccination programs.
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)