Understanding COVID-19 Vaccine Early Skepticism and Misinformation

Savoia, E.; Su, M.; Piltch-Loeb, R.; Testa, M. A.

Recent polls report that approximately 18% of healthcare workers are still skeptical about getting vaccinated. These professionals play a key role as communicators to their patients and community members. Understanding their concerns and informational needs, as well as those of other essential workers, is important for building an effective communication strategy for the whole population. This study presents the results of a survey of 1,591 hesitant U.S. essential workers, conducted in December 2020, when they were the only group eligible for the vaccine, aiming to describe their concerns regarding the COVID-19 vaccine and related policies. Results show that freedom of choice, concerns about equal access to the vaccine and being able to live a life with no restrictions once vaccinated, were important issues since the early days of the distribution campaign. Vaccine communication campaigns and distribution policies should address both non-medical and medical concerns with the same relevance.