Drivers of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among women of childbearing age in Victoria, Australia: A descriptive qualitative study

•Vaccine-hesitant women’s concerns included safety in childbearing and breastfeeding.•Public health communications must be tailored to address women’s specific concerns.•Provide robust short- and long-term safety data to address vaccine hesitancy.•Data linkage infrastructure should track post-vaccin...

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Published in:Vaccine: X Vol. 12; p. 100240
Main Authors: Oliver, J., Kaufman, J., Bagot, K., Bradfield, Z., Homer, C., Gibney, K.B., Danchin, M.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-12-2022
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Summary:•Vaccine-hesitant women’s concerns included safety in childbearing and breastfeeding.•Public health communications must be tailored to address women’s specific concerns.•Provide robust short- and long-term safety data to address vaccine hesitancy.•Data linkage infrastructure should track post-vaccination outcomes.•Vaccine mandates lowered trust in Government and in healthcare providers. Women of childbearing age, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, report higher COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, but reasons for this hesitancy are unknown. We explored factors influencing vaccine decision-making among women of childbearing age in Victoria, Australia to inform strategies to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Twenty-four women aged 18–40 years were interviewed July-October 2021. Interview data were analyzed thematically using an inductive, constructivist approach. Of 24 participants, 14 (57%) were vaccine-hesitant, of whom 10/14 pregnant or breastfeeding. Six key themes were identified: weighing up perceived risks for self and baby; availability of information; change and contradictions; vaccination above everything; practical issues – hurdles of inconvenience. Vaccine-hesitant women’s concerns included safety in pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility effects. Some participants expressed a loss of trust in healthcare providers following vaccine mandates. Public health campaigns and communication should be tailored to address specific concerns to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake and prevent negative COVID-19 outcomes for women of childbearing age. Findings suggest that effective strategies to address hesitancy in this group may include providing robust short- and long-term safety data across fertility, birth outcomes and child development following COVID-19 vaccination. Other supportive strategies may include systemic changes like making childcare available at vaccination points (where practical), and using data linkage infrastructure to track post-vaccination outcomes.
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ISSN:2590-1362
2590-1362
DOI:10.1016/j.jvacx.2022.100240