Patients' Perspectives on Emergency Department COVID-19 Vaccination and Vaccination Messaging Through Randomized...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Vaccinology

Background:

• Emergency departments (EDs) represent a critical access point for reaching underserved populations.
• Integrating COVID-19 vaccination into ED workflows can supplement community-based vaccination efforts.
• Assessing patient perspectives on vaccination within the ED is crucial for program development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the COVID-19 vaccine status and perspectives of patients presenting to emergency departments.
• To determine patient receptivity to receiving COVID-19 vaccinations within the ED setting.
• To identify effective messaging strategies for promoting vaccination among ED patients, particularly those hesitant to receive the vaccine.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was conducted across five academic medical centers.
• Participants were randomized to receive one of four hypothetical vaccination messages.
• Data collected included vaccination status, prior intent to vaccinate, and willingness to receive a vaccine in the ED.

Main Results:

• Only 20% of surveyed ED patients were vaccinated against COVID-19 at the time of the study.
• A significant proportion of patients (64.4%) expressed willingness to receive a hypothetical vaccine in the ED.
• Among vaccine-hesitant patients, a simple opt-in message demonstrated the highest acceptance rate (39.7%).

Conclusions:

• Emergency departments are suitable settings for implementing COVID-19 vaccination programs.
• A straightforward opt-in vaccination message may be the most effective strategy for engaging hesitant patients in EDs.
• ED-based vaccination can serve as a valuable supplement to existing community vaccination initiatives.