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Yazdani Y, Pai P, Sayfi S, Mohammadi A, Perdes S, Spitzer D, Fabreau GE, Pottie K. Predictors of COVID-19 vaccine acceptability among refugees and other migrant populations: A systematic scoping review. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0292143. [PMID: 38968187 PMCID: PMC11226018 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to map the existing literature to identify predictors of COVID-19 vaccine acceptability among refugees, immigrants, and other migrant populations. METHODS A systematic search of Medline, Embase, Scopus, APA PsycInfo and Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) was conducted up to 31 January 2023 to identify the relevant English peer-reviewed observational studies. Two independent reviewers screened abstracts, selected studies, and extracted data. RESULTS We identified 34 cross-sectional studies, primarily conducted in high income countries (76%). Lower vaccine acceptance was associated with mistrust in the host countries' government and healthcare system, concerns about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, limited knowledge of COVID-19 infection and vaccines, lower COVID-19 risk perception, and lower integration level in the host country. Female gender, younger age, lower education level, and being single were associated with lower vaccine acceptance in most studies. Additionally, sources of information about COVID-19 and vaccines and previous history of COVID-19 infection, also influence vaccine acceptance. Vaccine acceptability towards COVID-19 booster doses and various vaccine brands were not adequately studied. CONCLUSIONS Vaccine hesitancy and a lack of trust in COVID-19 vaccines have become significant public health concerns within migrant populations. These findings may help in providing information for current and future vaccine outreach strategies among migrant populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasaman Yazdani
- Department of Family Medicine, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Poojitha Pai
- Department of Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shahab Sayfi
- Department of Family Medicine, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
- Michael G. DeGroote Cochrane Canada and GRADE Centres, Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Arash Mohammadi
- Department of Family Medicine, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Denise Spitzer
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Gabriel E. Fabreau
- Departments of Medicine and Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Kevin Pottie
- Department of Family Medicine, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
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Wong J, Lao C, Dino G, Donyaei R, Lui R, Huynh J. Vaccine Hesitancy among Immigrants: A Narrative Review of Challenges, Opportunities, and Lessons Learned. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:445. [PMID: 38793696 PMCID: PMC11126062 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12050445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Vaccination reluctance is a major worldwide public health concern as it poses threats of disease outbreaks and strains on healthcare systems. While some studies have examined vaccine uptake within specific countries, few provide an overview of the barriers and trends among migrant groups. To fill this knowledge gap, this narrative review analyzes immunization patterns and vaccine hesitancy among immigrant populations. (2) Methods: Four researchers independently evaluated the quality and bias risk of the 18 identified articles using validated critical appraisal tools. (3) Results: Most studies focused on vaccine hesitancy among migrants in the United States and Canada, with a higher COVID-19 vaccine reluctance than native-born residents. Contributing factors to this hesitancy include demographics, cultural views, obstacles to healthcare access, financial hardship, and distrust in health policies. Additionally, immigrants in North America and Europe face unfair vaccine challenges due to misinformation, safety concerns, personal perspectives, language barriers, immigration status, and restricted healthcare access. (4) Conclusions: Tailored vaccine education programs and outreach campaigns sensitive to immigrants' diversity should be developed to address this issue. It is also important to investigate community-specific obstacles and assess the long-term sustainability of current efforts to promote vaccination among marginalized migrant groups. Further research into global immunization disparities among immigrant populations is crucial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Wong
- College of Pharmacy, Western University of Health Sciences, 309 E. Second St., Pomona, CA 91766, USA; (C.L.); (G.D.); (R.D.); (R.L.); (J.H.)
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Koku EF, Johnson-Yengbeh N, Muhr A. Addressing COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Uptake Among African Immigrants: Lessons from a Community-Based Outreach Program. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2024:10.1007/s40615-024-01947-9. [PMID: 38443740 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-024-01947-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
In 2021, the African Cultural Alliance of North America (ACANA) implemented a community-based vaccine education and outreach program to decrease hesitancy and increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake among African immigrants in Philadelphia. The program had three components: (1) tailored messaging on the benefits of vaccines by trusted community health navigators in familiar languages/dialects, (2) use of educational/tabling events, and (3) establishment of a vaccine clinic in community settings. Using secondary data analysis, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and a self-administered survey, we explored (i) the impact and effectiveness of the outreach program and extent of vaccine uptake, (ii) African immigrants' beliefs about the COVID-19 pandemic and the vaccine, and (iii) barriers and facilitators of vaccine knowledge, uptake, and hesitancy. Our analysis showed that ACANA's outreach program was effective in addressing several cultural, logistic, and systematic barriers to vaccine uptake. The program distributed 2000 educational/informational flyers, reached 3000 community members via social media campaigns, and an additional 2320 through other person-to-person outreach events. The program was effective and resulted in the vaccination of 1265 community members over the course of the outreach. The impact of this outreach underscores the critical role of community-based organizations in addressing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and increasing vaccine uptake in underserved and minority communities. The paper concludes with suggestions and recommendations for using community-based outreach programs to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake and decrease hesitancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel F Koku
- Department of Sociology, Drexel University, 3201 Arch Street, Room 288, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| | - Nettie Johnson-Yengbeh
- Health Department, African Cultural Alliance of North America (ACANA), 5530 Chester Ave, Philadelphia, PA, 19143, USA
| | - Ava Muhr
- Health Department, African Cultural Alliance of North America (ACANA), 5530 Chester Ave, Philadelphia, PA, 19143, USA
- School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, 15a George Square, EH8 9LD, Edinburgh, UK
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Newman PA, Dinh DA, Nyoni T, Allan K, Fantus S, Williams CC, Tepjan S, Reid L, Guta A. Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Under-Vaccination among Marginalized Populations in the United States and Canada: A Scoping Review. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2023:10.1007/s40615-023-01882-1. [PMID: 38117443 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-023-01882-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amid persistent disparities in Covid-19 vaccination and burgeoning research on vaccine hesitancy (VH), we conducted a scoping review to identify multilevel determinants of Covid-19 VH and under-vaccination among marginalized populations in the U.S. and Canada. METHODS Using the scoping review methodology developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute, we designed a search string and explored 7 databases to identify peer-reviewed articles published from January 1, 2020-October 25, 2022. We combine frequency analysis and narrative synthesis to describe factors influencing Covid-19 VH and under-vaccination among marginalized populations. RESULTS The search captured 11,374 non-duplicated records, scoped to 103 peer-reviewed articles. Among 14 marginalized populations identified, African American/Black, Latinx, LGBTQ+, American Indian/Indigenous, people with disabilities, and justice-involved people were the predominant focus. Thirty-two factors emerged as influencing Covid-19 VH, with structural racism/stigma and institutional mistrust (structural)(n = 71) most prevalent, followed by vaccine safety (vaccine-specific)(n = 62), side effects (vaccine-specific)(n = 50), trust in individual healthcare provider (social/community)(n = 38), and perceived risk of infection (individual)(n = 33). Structural factors predominated across populations, including structural racism/stigma and institutional mistrust, barriers to Covid-19 vaccine access due to limited supply/availability, distance/lack of transportation, no/low paid sick days, low internet/digital technology access, and lack of culturally- and linguistically-appropriate information. DISCUSSION We identified multilevel and complex drivers of Covid-19 under-vaccination among marginalized populations. Distinguishing vaccine-specific, individual, and social/community factors that may fuel decisional ambivalence, more appropriately defined as VH, from structural racism/structural stigma and systemic/institutional barriers to vaccination access may better support evidence-informed interventions to promote equity in access to vaccines and informed decision-making among marginalized populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter A Newman
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Duy A Dinh
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Thabani Nyoni
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kate Allan
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sophia Fantus
- School of Social Work, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA
| | - Charmaine C Williams
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Luke Reid
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Adrian Guta
- School of Social Work, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada
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Luebben G, González-Parra G, Cervantes B. Study of optimal vaccination strategies for early COVID-19 pandemic using an age-structured mathematical model: A case study of the USA. MATHEMATICAL BIOSCIENCES AND ENGINEERING : MBE 2023; 20:10828-10865. [PMID: 37322963 PMCID: PMC11216547 DOI: 10.3934/mbe.2023481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
In this paper we study different vaccination strategies that could have been implemented for the early COVID-19 pandemic. We use a demographic epidemiological mathematical model based on differential equations in order to investigate the efficacy of a variety of vaccination strategies under limited vaccine supply. We use the number of deaths as the metric to measure the efficacy of each of these strategies. Finding the optimal strategy for the vaccination programs is a complex problem due to the large number of variables that affect the outcomes. The constructed mathematical model takes into account demographic risk factors such as age, comorbidity status and social contacts of the population. We perform simulations to assess the performance of more than three million vaccination strategies which vary depending on the vaccine priority of each group. This study focuses on the scenario corresponding to the early vaccination period in the USA, but can be extended to other countries. The results of this study show the importance of designing an optimal vaccination strategy in order to save human lives. The problem is extremely complex due to the large amount of factors, high dimensionality and nonlinearities. We found that for low/moderate transmission rates the optimal strategy prioritizes high transmission groups, but for high transmission rates, the optimal strategy focuses on groups with high CFRs. The results provide valuable information for the design of optimal vaccination programs. Moreover, the results help to design scientific vaccination guidelines for future pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Luebben
- Department of Mathematics, New Mexico Tech, New Mexico, 87801, USA
| | | | - Bishop Cervantes
- Department of Mathematics, New Mexico Tech, New Mexico, 87801, USA
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