Longitudinal assessment of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and uptake among frontline medical workers in Los Angeles, California

Abstract

Abstract Background Sentiments of vaccine hesitancy and distrust in public health institutions have complicated the government-led COVID-19 vaccine control strategy in the United States. As the first to receive the vaccine, COVID-19 vaccine attitudes among front line workers are consequential for COVID-19 control and public opinion of the vaccine. Methods This study employed a repeated cross-sectional survey administered at three time points between September 24 – February 6, 2021 to a cohort of employees of University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Health and the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD). The primary outcome of interest was COVID-19 vaccination intent and vaccine uptake. Results Confidence in COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine uptake rose significantly over time. At Survey 1, confidence in vaccine protection was 46.4% among healthcare workers (HCW) and 34.6% among first responders (FR); by Survey 3, this had risen to 90.0% and 75.7%, respectively. At Survey 1, about one-third of participants intended to receive a vaccine as soon as possible. By Survey 3, 96.0% of HCW and 87.5% of FR had received a COVID-19 vaccine. Conclusions Attitudes towards vaccine uptake increased over the study period, likely a result of increased public confidence in COVID-19 vaccines, targeted communications, a COVID-19 winter surge in LA County, and ease of access from employer-sponsored vaccine distribution.