Building Trust to Encourage Vaccination: The Infection Preventionist's Role with Vaccine Compliance

BACKGROUND: From its conception, the development of the SARS-COV-2 vaccines is a remarkable accomplishment. However, successfully vaccinating widespread populations presents many challenges with vaccine acceptance and hesitancy. The growing role of Infection Preventionists (IP) relies much on service with a strong emphasis built upon relationships within their healthcare facilities and tied to collaborative partnerships for prevention. Given the importance of achieving high vaccine compliance, the trust established with IPs in select departments was an essential function in the vaccine rollout. The IPs along with other trusted leaders carried out a variety of methods between April 2021-September 2021 to increase SARS-CoV-2 vaccination rates. METHODS: In December of 2020, our hospital began administering SARS-CoV-2 vaccines at a rapid pace. By March 2021, vaccination rates slowed with only 58% (1,973 unvaccinated) of our hospital completing the vaccine series, despite appealing incentives. The Vice President of Operations tasked the IP manager and Hospital Epidemiologist, along with other healthcare leaders to develop a variety of methods to increase compliance. The IP team met with departments with lower compliance to provide education, lead small group discussions, and most importantly listen. On-site, visible vaccine distribution, roving carts that went from unit to unit, and providing support to employees while they got their vaccine. RESULTS: In August 2021, the healthcare system did announce that vaccination is a mandatory condition of employment. Trust in the vaccines is vital and is critically dependent to understand barriers. These methods did improve compliance with over 1,000 employees successfully completing the vaccine series. CONCLUSIONS: We address the role of IPs and trusted leaders in promoting confidence in the effectiveness and safety of vaccinations through effective communication and trust in their ability to distribute them efficiently and equitably. Recognizing that vaccination campaigns of the extent and speed needed are unprecedented, and trust is essential to their success.