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COVID-19 Vaccination Status and Concerns Among People Who Use Drugs in Oregon
Erin Stack1, Sarah Shin, Kate LaForge
1From the Comagine Health, Portland, OR (ES, SS, KL, JP, GL); Department of Medicine, Section of Addiction Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR (JEL, DH, PTK); HIV Alliance, Eugene, OR (MB); Oregon Health Authority, Acute and Communicable Disease Prevention, Public Health Division, Oregon Health Authority, Portland, OR (JML); Oregon Health Authority, Injury and Violence Prevention Program, Public Health Division, Oregon Health Authority, Portland, OR (LC); and Oregon Health & Science University-Portland State University School of Public Health, Portland, OR (PTK).
Objectives:
The objective of this study was to examine COVID-19 vaccination acceptance and explore reasons for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among people who use drugs (PWUDs), a population with increased COVID-19 transmission and morbidity.
Methods:
We conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with PWUDs in 7 Oregon counties from May 11 to June 25, 2021. Participants (n = 34) were recruited in partnership with syringe service programs and local community organizations staff, participant-referrals, and flyer advertising. Research staff conducted interviews via telephone to assess participants' acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine, find knowledge gaps where new educational information about vaccination would be helpful, and identify who would be perceived as a trustworthy source of information. Interviews were transcribed and coded using thematic analysis with a deductive approach.
Results:
Most participants had not received the COVID-19 vaccine and were not planning on or were unsure about receiving it. Participants were mistrustful of the rapid COVID-19 vaccine development process, the agencies involved in the development, and vaccines in general. Participants shared varied and contrasting responses about who they would trust to provide information about the COVID-19 vaccine, including peer recovery support specialists, doctors, or other health care professionals, and specified federal agencies or media outlets.
Conclusions:
As addiction medicine and public health staff continue to respond to the evolving impacts of COVID-19, vaccination planning should be tailored to the unique needs of PWUD to increase COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in this high-risk population.
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