An Opportunity to Understand Concerns about COVID-19 Vaccination: Perspectives from EMS Professionals

Some healthcare professionals, including emergency medical service (EMS) professionals, remain hesitant about receiving COVID-19 vaccines. This study sought to understand EMS professionals' perspectives regarding COVID-19 vaccination. Using open-ended comments from a national survey deployed el...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Vaccines (Basel) 2022-03, Vol.10 (3), p.380
Main Authors: MacEwan, Sarah R, Gaughan, Alice A, Gregory, Megan E, Rush, Laura J, Powell, Jonathan R, Kurth, Jordan D, Panchal, Ashish R, McAlearney, Ann Scheck
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
COVID-19 vaccines
Demographics
Disease transmission
emergency medical service
Emergency medical services
FDA approval
Health care
Health services
Herd immunity
Illnesses
Infections
Medical personnel
Pandemics
Polls & surveys
Public health
R&D
Research & development
vaccination
vaccine hesitancy
Vaccines
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Summary:Some healthcare professionals, including emergency medical service (EMS) professionals, remain hesitant about receiving COVID-19 vaccines. This study sought to understand EMS professionals' perspectives regarding COVID-19 vaccination. Using open-ended comments from a national survey deployed electronically to over 19,000 EMS professionals in April of 2021, we examined perspectives about acceptance of and hesitancy toward COVID-19 vaccines. Survey comments revealed differences in perspectives between vaccinated and unvaccinated EMS professionals regarding their personal role in improving public health through COVID-19 vaccination as well as vaccine benefits and the protection conferred by vaccination. Unvaccinated individuals also expressed concerns over the research and development of the COVID-19 vaccines that led to their decision not to get vaccinated. Individuals who were vaccinated suggested ways to increase uptake of the vaccine including having healthcare professionals serve as leaders for vaccination and educating individuals about COVID-19 vaccination through credible resources. Vaccine hesitancy remains a challenge to achieving herd immunity to COVID-19 through vaccination, even among healthcare professionals. Understanding the perspectives of those who have chosen not to be vaccinated can help direct strategies to reduce confusion and concerns. The perspectives of vaccinated individuals may also be valuable in identifying opportunities to promote vaccination in the professional setting.
ISSN:2076-393X
2076-393X
DOI:10.3390/vaccines10030380