Characteristics associated with COVID-19 vaccination status among staff and faculty of a large, diverse University in Los Angeles: The Trojan Pandemic Response Initiative

Michele Nicolo; Eric S. Kawaguchi; Angie Ghanem-Uzqueda; Andre E. Kim; Daniel Soto; Sohini Deva; Kush Shanker; Christopher Rogers; Ryan Lee; Yolee Casagrande; Frank Gilliland; Sarah Van Orman; Jeffrey Klausner; Andrea Kovacs; David Conti; Howard Hu; Jennifer B. Unger

Preventive Medicine Reports (Jun 2022)

Characteristics associated with COVID-19 vaccination status among staff and faculty of a large, diverse University in Los Angeles: The Trojan Pandemic Response Initiative

Michele Nicolo,
Eric S. Kawaguchi,
Angie Ghanem-Uzqueda,
Andre E. Kim,
Daniel Soto,
Sohini Deva,
Kush Shanker,
Christopher Rogers,
Ryan Lee,
Yolee Casagrande,
Frank Gilliland,
Sarah Van Orman,
Jeffrey Klausner,
Andrea Kovacs,
David Conti,
Howard Hu,
Jennifer B. Unger

Affiliations

Michele Nicolo: Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Eric S. Kawaguchi: Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Angie Ghanem-Uzqueda: Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Family Medicine, Keck Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Andre E. Kim: Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Daniel Soto: Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Sohini Deva: Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Kush Shanker: Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Christopher Rogers: Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Ryan Lee: Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Yolee Casagrande: Keck Medical Center of USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Frank Gilliland: Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Sarah Van Orman: Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Family Medicine, Keck Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Jeffrey Klausner: Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Andrea Kovacs: Keck School Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles California, USA
David Conti: Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Howard Hu: Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Jennifer B. Unger: Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Corresponding author at: 2001 N. Soto Street, 3rd Floor SSB, Los Angeles, CA 90028, USA.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 27
p. 101802

Abstract

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Objective: This study examined characteristics associated with being unvaccinated among a sample of university staff and faculty prior to university campus reopening for in-person learning in 2021. Methods: Staff and faculty responded to an email invitation to complete an online survey. Survey questions included demographic data (race/ethnicity, age, sex), COVID-19 knowledge and behaviors, employment specific data including division and subdivision (healthcare vs. non-healthcare related division); and self-reported vaccination status. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine significant characteristics associated with the likelihood of being unvaccinated for COVID-19. Results: Participants identifying as Asian and Asian American (aOR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.96), Hispanic/Latinx (aOR = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.21, 2.49) or Multicultural/Other (aOR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.24, 2.38) had greater odds of being unvaccinated compared to Non-Hispanic White participants. Other characteristics associated with greater likelihood of being unvaccinated included working as a university staff member (vs. faculty) (aOR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.24. 2.30), decrease in income (aOR = 1.34, 95% CI:1.05, 1.71), inability to work remotely (aOR = 1.48, 95% CI:1.13, 1.93) and not traveling outside of the Los Angeles area (aOR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.16, 1.83). Political affiliation as an Independent (aOR = 1.39, 95% CI:1.04, 1.85) or as something else (aOR = 3.84, 95% CI: 2.72, 5.41) were more likely to be unvaccinated compared to participants identifying as Democrat. Conclusions: Several factors associated with racial and social disparities may delay the uptake of COVID-19 vaccination. This study highlights the need for targeted educational interventions to promote vaccination among university staff and faculty.

Published in Preventive Medicine Reports

ISSN: 2211-3355 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/preventive-medicine-reports/

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