Magee, LA;
Brown, JR;
Bowyer, V;
Horgan, G;
Boulding, H;
Khalil, A;
Cheetham, NJ;
Harvey, NR;
Covid Symptom Study Biobank Consortium, ;
Resilient Study Group, ;
et al.
Magee, LA; Brown, JR; Bowyer, V; Horgan, G; Boulding, H; Khalil, A; Cheetham, NJ; Harvey, NR; Covid Symptom Study Biobank Consortium; Resilient Study Group; Mistry, HD; Sudre, C; Silverio, SA; von Dadelszen, P; Duncan, EL
(2024)
Courage in Decision Making: A Mixed-Methods Study of COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake in Women of Reproductive Age in the U.K.
Vaccines (Basel), 12 (4).
p. 440.
ISSN 2076-393X
https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12040440
SGUL Authors: Khalil, Asma
Abstract
COVID-19 vaccination rates are lower in women of reproductive age (WRA), including pregnant/postpartum women, despite their poorer COVID-19-related outcomes. We evaluated the vaccination experiences of 3568 U.K. WRA, including 1983 women (55.6%) experiencing a pandemic pregnancy, recruited through the ZOE COVID Symptom Study app. Two staggered online questionnaires (Oct-Dec 2021: 3453 responders; Aug-Sept 2022: 2129 responders) assessed reproductive status, COVID-19 status, vaccination, and attitudes for/against vaccination. Descriptive analyses included vaccination type(s), timing relative to age-based eligibility and reproductive status, vaccination delay (first vaccination >28 days from eligibility), and rationale, with content analysis of free-text comments. Most responders (3392/3453, 98.2%) were vaccinated by Dec 2021, motivated by altruism, vaccination supportiveness in general, low risk, and COVID-19 concerns. Few declined vaccination (by Sept/2022: 20/2129, 1.0%), citing risks (pregnancy-specific and longer-term), pre-existing immunity, and personal/philosophical reasons. Few women delayed vaccination, although pregnant/postpartum women (vs. other WRA) received vaccination later (median 3 vs. 0 days after eligibility, p < 0.0001). Despite high uptake, concerns included adverse effects, misinformation (including from healthcare providers), ever-changing government advice, and complex decision making. In summary, most women in this large WRA cohort were promptly vaccinated, including pregnant/post-partum women. Altruism and community benefit superseded personal benefit as reasons for vaccination. Nevertheless, responders experienced angst and received vaccine-related misinformation and discouragement. These findings should inform vaccination strategies in WRA.
Item Type: |
Article
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Additional Information: |
Copyright: © 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). |
Keywords: |
COVID-19, hesitancy, vaccination |
Journal or Publication Title: |
Vaccines (Basel) |
ISSN: |
2076-393X |
Language: |
eng |
Dates: |
Date | Event |
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18 April 2024 | Published | 13 April 2024 | Accepted |
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Publisher License: |
Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0 |
Projects: |
|
PubMed ID: |
38675822 |
![](http://static.pubmed.gov/portal/portal3rc.fcgi/2745237/img/27842) |
Go to PubMed abstract |
URI: |
https://openaccess.sgul.ac.uk/id/eprint/116478 |
Publisher's version: |
https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12040440 |
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