Exploring the Scope and Dimensions of Vaccine Hesitancy and Resistance to Enhance COVID-19 Vaccination in Black Communities

Background The long history of distrust that characterizes the relationship between the Black/African-American population and the US Medical community makes COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy of great concern. A needs assessment of the Black/African-American community assessed willingness and explored the perceptions of community members regarding COVID-19 vaccination. Methods The study used a mixed-methods approach. Respondents (n = 183) were surveyed with a web-based questionnaire. They were asked whether there would get vaccinated for COVID-19 barring any access or cost-related challenges. Perceptions of community members regarding vaccination were explored through one-on-one interviews (n = 30) and eight focus groups (n = 49), with participants drawn from across various demographic characteristics. Survey responses were summarized using frequencies and proportions. A thematic analysis was conducted on the qualitative data. Results Thirty-four percent of respondents indicated Yes (willing to get vaccinated); 26.8% indicated No, while 37.1% expressed hesitancy (Maybe or I don't know). Themes emerging from the qualitative data are grouped into three broad categories: vaccine accessibility (transportation, information, navigating healthcare system); vaccine hesitancy (with sub-categories of compliance, complacency and confidence); and vaccine resistance (conspiracy theories, conflicting beliefs, distrust of Government, trustworthiness of Health care). Conclusion Findings demonstrate a nuanced expansion of vaccine hesitancy to delineate groups with varying issues and perspectives. Interventions to enhance vaccination rates in Black/African-American communities should incorporate components that assure accessibility at the minimum, but also address non-access-related issues. Priority should be given to enhancing vaccine literacy, information-sharing as efficacy and safety data emerge, and addressing specific concerns identified through community-engaged outreach efforts.

Automated summary

This study used a mixed-methods approach to assess the willingness and perceptions of the Black/African-American community regarding COVID-19 vaccination. Findings revealed varying attitudes towards vaccination among respondents, with themes including vaccine accessibility, vaccine hesitancy, and vaccine resistance. Interventions to improve vaccination rates should focus on enhancing vaccine literacy, addressing non-access-related concerns, and engaging with the community to address specific issues.