Abstract

In the midst of the COVID pandemic, many persons protested to face masks, lock-downs and restrictions on movements. Mandatory vaccinations for healthcare workers also caused protests and some walkouts. As subvariants of COVID-19 will continue to emerge, it is important to assess the opinion of mandatory vaccinations for individuals who come into close contact with the public such as healthcare worker, educators and coaches. Such assessments could be used in policy-making to decrease vaccine hesitancy among these individuals and the general public. Between 9 May, 2021 to 1 February, 2022 a questionnaire probing the experience with COVID and attitude to COVID getting the COVID vaccine was sent to across 59 social media channels. The data from self-administered questionnaire was analyzed for the response to the question “Should COVID-19 Vaccination be Mandatory?”. The response had three categories coded as (0=No, 1=yes- now immediately, 2=yes-only after full Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval) for seven specific subgroups, all healthcare workers, educators and coaches, four age groups as well as pregnant people. We conducted a confirmatory analysis with bivariate and multinomial logistic regression with predictors sex, age groups, race/ethnicity, marital status, creed, medical practice. Associations were assessed at with odds-ratio and 95% confidence intervals. Significant associations excluded. In multinomial model with 22,198 respondents, women objected more to immediate vaccinations than men, but both were equal on waiting for federal approval. Age category showed more acceptance of immediate vaccinations going from youngest to oldest. Most ethnic minorities were substantially more in favor of vaccinations than Caucasians. The exceptions were native Americans/Pacific Islander who substantially objected to mandatory vaccinations. All creeds were more in favor of vaccinations than christians. This was especially so for unbelievers. All healthcare workers regardless of type of practice were more in favor of immediate vaccinations than respondents not in healthcare. This suggests that efforts to promote COVID vaccinations would benefit from addressing the concerns of women, Native Americans and Pacific Islanders to increase participation by persons in these groups.

Keywords: COVID; Healthcare workers; Vaccinations; Social media