COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance or Refusal Among US Nurses: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-2023

Publisher

Wisconsin Medical Society

Source Publication

Wisconsin Medical Journal

Source ISSN

0043-6542

Abstract

Introduction: Nurse turnover has accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nurse refusal of mandated vaccines contributes to understaffing and affects patient health outcomes. The purposes of this study were to describe (1) nurse reasons for COVID-19 vaccine decisions and (2) the relationship between vaccine status and nurse characteristics.

Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study employed a survey of US nurses who worked in nursing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey included a free-text question about COVID-19 vaccine uptake rationale, self-reported vaccine acceptance/refusal, and demographic data.

Results: Of the 1682 participants, 11.2% refused the COVID-19 vaccine. Higher education level was correlated with greater vaccine acceptance rates (P <  0.001). Themes for vaccine rationale included safeguarding well-being, trust in the science, coercion to vaccinate, perceived immunity, and concern about preexisting health conditions.

Conclusions: The risks of COVID-19 vaccine mandates may be greater than the potential benefits given the potential for compounding workforce attrition during a nursing staffing crisis. Further research is needed to outline the relationships between vaccine education, advocacy, and vaccine uptake among nurses.

Comments

Wisconsin Medical Journal, Vol. 122, No. 5 (2023): 399-405. Publisher link.

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