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COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence Among Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Employees

CP33 - COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence Among Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Employees

Poster Type: Research

Track/Topic: Public Health Crises; Workforce

Research Objectives: The objectives of the cross-sectional online survey are to (1) understand what influences COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy amongst FQHC employees, (2) explore associations between vaccine hesitancy, demographic variables, and patient-facing employment; and (3) improve COVID-19 vaccine confidence among FQHC employees.

Research Study Design/Methods: Using self-reported data from a cross-sectional online survey, 462 FQHC employees completed questions on demographics, FQHC employment, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, and vaccine hesitancy influence(s). COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was defined as answering, “No,” or “Unsure,” on willingness to be vaccinated. COVID-19 vaccine confidence was defined as willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine or already being vaccinated. Descriptive statistics and a contingency analysis using Fisher’s Exact Test and unadjusted Odds Ratios were used to determine the association between COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and gender, age, race, educational attainment, or being employed in a patient-facing role.

Research Principal Findings and Quantitative/Qualitative Results: Female employees were more likely to be vaccine hesitant than males [OR=3.09; 95% CI: 1.75-5.66, p35-years old were more likely to be vaccine hesitant than employees =35-years old [OR=2.89; 95% CI: 1.91-4.40, p0.0001]. Blacks were more likely to be vaccine hesitant than Whites [OR=3.04; 95% CI: 1.70-5.60, p<0.0001]. Non-patient-facing employees were more likely to be vaccine hesitant than patient-facing employees [OR=1.74; 95% CI: 1.15-2.64, p=0.008]. Educational level had the largest effect size.

Research Conclusions on Impact on Health Centers: These findings highlight the importance of sociodemographic factors in understanding COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and confidence among FQHC employees. The factor that seemed to be most important was education. Employees with less formal education were more likely to be vaccine hesitant. Since FQHC employees serve our nation’s most vulnerable and underserved populations, they have the potential to influence FQHC patients’ knowledge and attitudes around COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. FQHC employees along with FQHC patients, should be the focus of greater research and education efforts.

Authors:

Daniel Parras, MPH, Research Data Analyst, Health Choice Network

Katherine Chung-Bridges, MD, MPH, Director of Research, Health Choice Network

Shelly Sital, MPH, Project Director, Testing and Surveillance, AllianceChicago

Stephanie Smith, BHSA, Manager, Clinical Quality, Health Choice Network

Jena Wallander Gemkow, MPH, BSN, RN, Clinical Research Manager, AllianceChicago

Andrew Hamilton, RN, BSN, MS, Chief Informatics Officer, AllianceChicago

Timothy Long, MD, Chief Clinical Officer, Health Choice Network