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Early COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Characteristics in Mothers Following Bariatric Surgery
Heather Strong1, Jennifer Reiter-Purtill2, Taylor Howarth2
1Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA. Heather.Strong@cchmc.org.
Insights
Many mothers who underwent bariatric surgery showed COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Addressing concerns about vaccine safety and effectiveness is crucial for this high-risk group.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Obesity is a significant risk factor for severe COVID-19 outcomes and impacts vaccine response.
- Understanding COVID-19 vaccine intention in specific populations, like those with severe obesity post-bariatric surgery, is critical.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate early COVID-19 vaccine intention among mothers with a history of severe obesity who have undergone bariatric surgery.
- To identify factors influencing vaccine acceptance or hesitancy in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- Online surveys were administered to 64 mothers post-bariatric surgery between November 2020 and February 2021.
- Data collected included COVID-19 vaccine intention, demographics, BMI, obesity-COVID-19 risk knowledge, flu vaccination history, and general vaccine beliefs.
- Statistical analyses compared groups based on vaccine intention, demographics, and other relevant factors.
Main Results:
- Over half (56.3%) of the participants had severe obesity (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m²).
- A majority exhibited vaccine hesitancy: 43.8% were undecided, and 23.4% were vaccine-opposed.
- Vaccine-hesitant groups were younger; those opposed to vaccination had lower flu vaccination rates and less belief in general vaccine safety.
Conclusions:
- Early COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was prominent among mothers with a history of bariatric surgery, particularly those with persistent severe obesity.
- This subgroup represents a high-risk population requiring targeted interventions and messaging.
- Factors like perceived side effects and concern for self/others' health influenced vaccine confidence and motivation.
Background:
Obesity has played a central role in heightened coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) risk and vaccine response. COVID-19 vaccine intention among those with a history of severe obesity, specifically those who have undergone bariatric surgery, has not been described. This study aims to examine early COVID-19 vaccine intention among mothers with a history of severe obesity who underwent bariatric surgery.
Methods:
Sixty-four mothers (Mage = 39.3 years) who underwent bariatric surgery (Mtime since surgery = 19.6 months) completed surveys online (November 2020-February 2021). Information obtained included their COVID-19 vaccine intention (vaccine ready, undecided, vaccine opposed). Analyses examined group differences in demographics, body mass index (BMI = kg/m2), knowledge of obesity-related COVID-19 risk, flu vaccination history, general beliefs about vaccine safety/effectiveness, and factors increasing confidence/motivation to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine.
Results:
Thirty-six (56.3%) mothers had severe obesity (≥ Class II [BMI = ≥ 35 kg/m2]). The majority were vaccine hesitant (undecided [n = 28; 43.8%]; vaccine opposed [n = 15; 23.4%]). Compared to the vaccine-ready group, vaccine-hesitant groups were younger (p < .05). For the vaccine opposed, recent flu vaccination rates (p = .012) and general belief that vaccines are safe (p = .028) were lower than expected. Among hesitant participants, no reported side effects and the health of self and others were endorsed as top factors increasing vaccine confidence and motivation respectively.
Conclusions:
While preliminary, the prominence of early vaccine hesitancy in this sample of mothers who have undergone bariatric surgery, with most persisting with severe obesity, indicates a subgroup at high risk. Factors to address through targeted messaging and intervention were identified.
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