COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in inflammatory arthritis patients: serial surveys from a large longitudinal national Australian cohort
Authors' conclusion
In this study of vaccine beliefs before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in inflammatory arthritis patients varied, depending on vaccine attitudes immediately prior to the start of the pandemic. Fixed beliefs reflected broader views about medications, while fluid beliefs were highly influenced by whether they sought out information from health-care professionals, including rheumatologists.
Study context
- Population
- Inflammatory arthritis patients from community and public hospital outpatient rheumatology clinics enrolled in the Australian Rheumatology Association Database (ARAD)completed both surveys
- Participants
- 594 patients
- Outcome
- COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy rate
- Follow-up
- ≈1 year after the start of the pandemic ( )
Methodological detailsserial surveys, national registry (ARAD)
- Serial surveys
- National registry (ARAD)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
COVID-19 vaccine hesitant
74
12%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy
- Pre-pandemic beliefs about medications being harmful
- P < 0.001
- Pre-pandemic beliefs about medications being overused
- P = 0.002
- Stronger beliefs (harmful) resulting in vaccine hesitancy persistent over two time points
- P = 0.008
- Stronger beliefs (overused) resulting in vaccine hesitancy persistent over two time points
- P = 0.005
New COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in those not hesitant pre-pandemic
- Associated with lower likelihood of seeking vaccine information from health-care professionals
- P < 0.001
New influenza vaccine hesitancy
- Not associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy
- P = 0.138
Original publication
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