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Closing the Gap on COVID-19 Vaccinations in First Responders and Beyond: Increasing Trust

Author

Listed:
  • Megan E. Gregory

    (Department of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
    The Center for the Advancement of Team Science, Analytics, and Systems Thinking in Health Services and Implementation Science Research (CATALYST), College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA)

  • Sarah R. MacEwan

    (The Center for the Advancement of Team Science, Analytics, and Systems Thinking in Health Services and Implementation Science Research (CATALYST), College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA)

  • Alice A. Gaughan

    (The Center for the Advancement of Team Science, Analytics, and Systems Thinking in Health Services and Implementation Science Research (CATALYST), College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA)

  • Laura J. Rush

    (The Center for the Advancement of Team Science, Analytics, and Systems Thinking in Health Services and Implementation Science Research (CATALYST), College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA)

  • Jonathan R. Powell

    (National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
    Division of Epidemiology, The Ohio State University College of Public Health, Columbus, OH 43210, USA)

  • Jordan D. Kurth

    (National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, Columbus, OH 43210, USA)

  • Eben Kenah

    (Division of Biostatistics, The Ohio State University College of Public Health, Columbus, OH 43210, USA)

  • Ashish R. Panchal

    (National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
    Division of Epidemiology, The Ohio State University College of Public Health, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
    Department of Emergency Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA)

  • Ann Scheck McAlearney

    (Department of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
    The Center for the Advancement of Team Science, Analytics, and Systems Thinking in Health Services and Implementation Science Research (CATALYST), College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
    Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA)

Abstract

Although COVID-19 vaccines are widely available in the U.S. and much of the world, many have chosen to forgo this vaccination. Emergency medical services (EMS) professionals, despite their role on the frontlines and interactions with COVID-positive patients, are not immune to vaccine hesitancy. Via a survey conducted in April 2021, we investigated the extent to which first responders in the U.S. trusted various information sources to provide reliable information about COVID-19 vaccines. Those vaccinated generally trusted healthcare providers as a source of information, but unvaccinated first responders had fairly low trust in this information source—a group to which they, themselves, belong. Additionally, regardless of vaccination status, trust in all levels of government, employers, and their community as sources of information was low. Free-response explanations provided some context to these findings, such as preference for other COVID-19 management options, including drugs proven ineffective. A trusted source of COVID-19 vaccination information is not readily apparent. Individuals expressed a strong desire for the autonomy to make vaccination decisions for themselves, as opposed to mandates. Potential reasons for low trust, possible solutions to address them, generalizability to the broader public, and implications of low trust in official institutions are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Megan E. Gregory & Sarah R. MacEwan & Alice A. Gaughan & Laura J. Rush & Jonathan R. Powell & Jordan D. Kurth & Eben Kenah & Ashish R. Panchal & Ann Scheck McAlearney, 2022. "Closing the Gap on COVID-19 Vaccinations in First Responders and Beyond: Increasing Trust," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-17, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:2:p:644-:d:719287
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nicky Phillips, 2021. "The coronavirus is here to stay — here’s what that means," Nature, Nature, vol. 590(7846), pages 382-384, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ann Scheck McAlearney & Alice A. Gaughan & Sarah R. MacEwan & Megan E. Gregory & Laura J. Rush & Jaclyn Volney & Ashish R. Panchal, 2022. "Pandemic Experience of First Responders: Fear, Frustration, and Stress," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-12, April.
    2. Alice A. Gaughan & Laura J. Rush & Sarah R. MacEwan & Ashish R. Panchal & Ann Scheck McAlearney, 2022. "Perspectives of Volunteer Firefighters during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Stumbling Blocks and Silver Linings," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-12, September.
    3. Hein de Vries & Wouter Verputten & Christian Preissner & Gerjo Kok, 2022. "COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: The Role of Information Sources and Beliefs in Dutch Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-17, March.

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