Drivers of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among women of childbearing age in Victoria, Australia: A descriptive qualitative study
J. Oliver,
J. Kaufman,
K. Bagot,
Z. Bradfield,
C. Homer,
K.B. Gibney,
M. Danchin
Affiliations
J. Oliver
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, The Royal Children's Hospital, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia; The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, 792 Elizabeth St, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia; Corresponding author at: Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, The Royal Children's Hospital, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
J. Kaufman
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, The Royal Children's Hospital, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
K. Bagot
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, The Royal Children's Hospital, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
Z. Bradfield
School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Kent St, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia
C. Homer
Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Rd, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia
K.B. Gibney
The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, 792 Elizabeth St, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
M. Danchin
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, The Royal Children's Hospital, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, Melbourne Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Cnr Grattan Street & Royal Parade, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; Department of General Medicine, The Royal Children's Hospital, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
Objective: Women of childbearing age, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, report higher COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, but reasons for this hesitancy are unknown. We explored factors influencing vaccine decision-making among women of childbearing age in Victoria, Australia to inform strategies to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Methods: Twenty-four women aged 18–40 years were interviewed July-October 2021. Interview data were analyzed thematically using an inductive, constructivist approach. Results: Of 24 participants, 14 (57%) were vaccine-hesitant, of whom 10/14 pregnant or breastfeeding. Six key themes were identified: weighing up perceived risks for self and baby; availability of information; change and contradictions; vaccination above everything; practical issues – hurdles of inconvenience. Vaccine-hesitant women’s concerns included safety in pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility effects. Some participants expressed a loss of trust in healthcare providers following vaccine mandates. Conclusions: Public health campaigns and communication should be tailored to address specific concerns to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake and prevent negative COVID-19 outcomes for women of childbearing age. Findings suggest that effective strategies to address hesitancy in this group may include providing robust short- and long-term safety data across fertility, birth outcomes and child development following COVID-19 vaccination. Other supportive strategies may include systemic changes like making childcare available at vaccination points (where practical), and using data linkage infrastructure to track post-vaccination outcomes.
