Influences on Vaccine Decision-Making During Pregnancy

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Vaccinology
• Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Background:

• Pregnant individuals face heightened risks of vaccine-preventable diseases.
• COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy was observed in pregnant populations, even among prior vaccine acceptors.
• Understanding these hesitancies is crucial given vaccination benefits for pregnant individuals and neonates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the perceptions and decision-making processes of pregnant individuals concerning COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative descriptive study utilizing semistructured interviews.
• Convenience sample of English and Spanish-speaking pregnant or recently pregnant individuals.
• Interviews transcribed and analyzed thematically by the research team.

Main Results:

• Decision-making was influenced by trust in healthcare providers, fear of vaccine complications versus COVID-19 infection, perceived vaccine safety/efficacy, immunity perceptions, vaccine novelty, health status, and social/religious factors.
• Key information sources included healthcare professionals within families, CDC, and perceived valid internet/social media.
• Forty-one interviews were conducted, with 10 participants identifying as Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish.

Conclusions:

• Healthcare provider recommendations critically impact COVID-19 vaccine decisions in pregnant individuals.
• Addressing safety concerns is paramount for healthcare providers disseminating vaccine information.
• Effective communication from healthcare providers is essential to overcome vaccine hesitancy.