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EditorialResearch

COVID-19 Vaccine Intention and Hesitancy of Dental Hygienists in the United States

JoAnn R. Gurenlian, Laura A. Eldridge, Cameron G. Estrich, Ann Battrell, Ann Lynch, Rachel W. Morrissey, Marcelo W. B. Araujo, Marko Vujicic and Matthew Mikkelsen
American Dental Hygienists' Association February 2022, 96 (1) 5-16;
JoAnn R. Gurenlian
Director of Education and Research, American Dental Hygienists’ Association, Chicago, IL, USA.
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  • For correspondence: joanng@adha.net
Laura A. Eldridge
Research Associate, Evidence Synthesis and Translation Research, American Dental Association Science & Research Institute, LLC, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Cameron G. Estrich
Health Research Analyst, Evidence Synthesis and Translation Research, American Dental Association Science & Research Institute, LLC, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Ann Battrell
Chief Executive Officer, American Dental Hygienists’ Association, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Ann Lynch
Director of Advocacy, American Dental Hygienists’ Association, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Rachel W. Morrissey
Senior Research Analyst, Education and Emerging Issues, Health Policy Institute, American Dental Association, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Marcelo W. B. Araujo
Chief Science Officer, American Dental Association, Science and Research Institute, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Marko Vujicic
Chief Economist and Vice President, Health Policy Institute, American Dental Association, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Matthew Mikkelsen
Manager, Education Surveys, Health Policy Institute, American Dental Association, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Abstract

Purpose: Vaccinations represent an important public health tool for mitigating dangerous diseases; nevertheless, there is concern and hesitancy regarding vaccinations including those for COVID-19. The purpose of this study was to determine the intentions and hesitancy among dental hygienists in the United States (US) toward COVID-19 vaccination.

Methods: Dental hygienists in the US were surveyed from 1/4/21 to 8/16/21 regarding their intentions to get vaccinated and whether they received a COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccination questions were part of an anonymous, ongoing longitudinal web-based survey of dental hygienists’ employment and infection control trends. Willingness or actual COVID-19 vaccination versus vaccine hesitancy were analyzed by differences in demographic characteristics using multivariable logistic regression and X2 and Fisher’s exact tests.

Results: Full COVID-19 vaccination rates in US dental hygienists rose sharply from 2/5/21 to 3/5/21 (26.0% to 53.9%) and leveled off to 75.4% by 8/30/21. The highest rates of vaccine hesitancy were among dental hygienists aged 26-39 years and those who had contracted COVID-19 during the time of the survey. The lowest vaccination hesitancy rates were seen among Non-Hispanic Asians and individuals 65+. When controlling for age, race/ethnicity, and years practiced, dental hygienists who had contracted COVID-19 had higher odds of being vaccine hesitant (adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR): 1.847, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.274, 2.678). Having contracted COVID-19 was also associated with respondents changing from being hesitant to be vaccinated to being willing to be vaccinated (aOR: 4.071, 95% CI: 1.652, 10.030).

Conclusion: Although vaccine acceptance is high among dental hygienists in the US, vaccine hesitancy remains an ongoing concern. Dental hygienists are key prevention specialists who should promote adherence to vaccination recommendations for the health of the public. Further education in virology, epidemiology, and vaccination education is recommended.

  • COVID-19
  • vaccine
  • vaccine hesitancy
  • vaccinations
  • dental hygienists
  • health promotion
  • Received November 15, 2021.
  • Accepted January 10, 2022.
  • Copyright © 2022 The American Dental Hygienists’ Association
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American Dental Hygienists' Association: 96 (1)
American Dental Hygienists' Association
Vol. 96, Issue 1
February 2022
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COVID-19 Vaccine Intention and Hesitancy of Dental Hygienists in the United States
JoAnn R. Gurenlian, Laura A. Eldridge, Cameron G. Estrich, Ann Battrell, Ann Lynch, Rachel W. Morrissey, Marcelo W. B. Araujo, Marko Vujicic, Matthew Mikkelsen
American Dental Hygienists' Association Feb 2022, 96 (1) 5-16;

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COVID-19 Vaccine Intention and Hesitancy of Dental Hygienists in the United States
JoAnn R. Gurenlian, Laura A. Eldridge, Cameron G. Estrich, Ann Battrell, Ann Lynch, Rachel W. Morrissey, Marcelo W. B. Araujo, Marko Vujicic, Matthew Mikkelsen
American Dental Hygienists' Association Feb 2022, 96 (1) 5-16;
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Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • vaccine
  • vaccine hesitancy
  • vaccinations
  • dental hygienists
  • health promotion

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ISSN #: 1553-0205

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