Vaccine hesitancy among working-age adults with/without disability in the UK

Objectives: To estimate levels of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among working-age adults with disabilities in the United Kingdom. Study design: Cross-sectional survey. Methods: Secondary analysis of data collected on a nationally representative sample of 10,114 respondents aged 16-64 years. Results: The adjusted relative risk for hesitancy among respondents with a disability was 0.92 (95% CI 0.67-1.27). There were stronger associations between gender and hesitancy and ethnic status and hesitancy among participants with a disability. The most common reasons cited by people with disabilities who were hesitant were: concern about the future effects of the vaccine, not trusting vaccines and concern about the side effects of vaccination. Conclusions: The higher rates of vaccine hesitancy among women with disabilities and among people from minority ethnic groups with disabilities are concerning. (c) 2021 The Royal Society for Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Among working-age adults with disabilities in the UK, there are stronger associations between gender and hesitancy, as well as ethnic status and hesitancy. Common reasons for hesitancy among disabled individuals include concerns about future effects, lack of trust in vaccines, and worries about side effects.