First Responders Have Lower COVID-19 Vaccination Rates Than Other Healthcare Providers

COVID-19 vaccination status varies widely among first responders. We sought to understand whether similar vaccination rates exist for first responders and healthcare providers (nurses/physicians) and if this rate changed over time.

This is a secondary analysis of a prospective longitudinal study of first responders and healthcare providers recruited starting in January 2021 and followed until April 2024. Following enrollment, participants completed surveys concerning personal demographics (age, sex, race, professional role [first responder, healthcare worker], use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and number of household members under age 18), and medical history (COVID-19 vaccination status, previous COVID-19 infection, and history of comorbidities). Participant vaccination status was confirmed at least every 6 months. Descriptive statistics were calculated, followed by logistic regression models (OR, 95% CI) to describe the associations between vaccination, demographics, and work characteristics. The cumulative incidence was visually described using a Kaplan-Meier plot.

Across 190 study participants, 61.1% were first responders, and 38.9% were healthcare providers. First responders were older, predominantly male, and reported more prior exposure to COVID-19. Although the odds of vaccination varied greatly within healthcare providers (OR 8.26, 95% CI 2.42-28.18), their odds of vaccination were higher than those of first responders (referent). Kaplan-Meier plots demonstrated that vaccination rates for both groups plateaued after 1 year.

This study noted differential rates of vaccination between first responders and healthcare professionals and that these rates plateaued, demonstrating fixed perspectives on vaccination. Focused efforts to understand diverse perspectives on vaccination concerns may enhance the protection and maintenance of these workforces.