Predictors of vaccine hesitancy among disability support workers in Australia: A cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND: Achieving high levels of vaccination among disability support workers (DSWs) is critical to protecting people with disability from COVID-19 and other vaccine-preventable diseases. OBJECTIVE: To identify how demographic factors, risk perceptions of COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccine, and views about COVID-19 vaccination are associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among DSWs. METHODS: Survey of 252 Australian DSWs conducted in March and early April 2021. Participants were classified as vaccine hesitant if they had not been vaccinated and would not have the vaccine when offered it. Logistic regression analysis was used to control for confounders. RESULTS: 52.4% of DSWs were hesitant with females being more likely to be hesitant than males (58.2% female, 38.1% male). Hesitancy was more frequent among DSWs who were not worried about COVID-19 for themselves or their family (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.86, 95% CI 1.0–3.45); did not agree they were at more risk than the rest of the community (AOR 2.29, 95% 1.25–4.20); were concerned about vaccine safety (AOR 22.86, 95% CI 10.59–49.13) and were not confident the vaccine would protect them (AOR 6.06, 95% CI 3.21–11.41) or the clients from COVID-19 (AOR 6.03, 95% CI 3.19–11.41). DSWs who thought vaccination was a personal choice were more likely to be hesitant (82.1%) than those who thought it was a community responsibility (27.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The study shows that increasing vaccination rates among DSWs requires targeted strategies that emphasise the seriousness of the infection; the potential for vaccines to reduce transmission; and vaccine safety and efficacy.