Acceptance and attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy in Canada

The COVID-19 pandemic posed a unique set of risks to pregnant women and pregnant people. SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy is associated with increased risk of severe illness and adverse perinatal outcomes. However, evidence regarding the use of COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy shows safety and efficacy. Despite eligibility and recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination among pregnant women and pregnant people in Canada, uptake remains lower compared to the general population, warranting exploration of influencing factors. The COVERED study, a national prospective cohort, utilized web-based surveys to collect data from pregnant women and pregnant people across Canada on COVID-19 vaccine attitudes, uptake, and hesitancy factors from July 2021 to December 2023. Survey questions were informed by validated tools including the WHO Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (VHS) and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Of 1093 respondents who were pregnant at the time of the survey, 87.7% received or intended to receive a COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy. TPB variables such as positive attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines (OR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.08-1.14), direct social norms, and indirect social norms were significantly associated with vaccine acceptance. Perceived vaccine risks, assessed by the WHO VHS, were greater in those not accepting of the vaccine. Our study identified several key factors that play a role in vaccine uptake: perceived vaccine risks and safety and social norms. These findings may guide public health recommendations and prenatal vaccine counseling strategies.

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Publication Details

Journal
Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics
Published
2025-02-03
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2025.2458353
Citations
4
Primary Topic
COVID-19 Impact on Reproduction
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
8.23

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article

Acceptance and attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy in Canada

Arianne Albert, John W. Snelgrove, Elisabeth McClymont, Lucia Forward et al.
4 citations
Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics
COVID-19 Impact on Reproduction
8.23
article

Acceptance and attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy in Canada

Arianne Albert, John W. Snelgrove, Elisabeth McClymont, Lucia Forward, Thomas Folkmann Hansen, Deborah Money, Eda Karacabeyli, Jon Barrett, Julie A. Bettinger, Chelsea Elwood, Janice Andrade, Gal Av‐Gay, Ann Kinga Malinowski, Eliana Castillo, Tali Bogler, Lori A. Brotto, Isabelle Boucoiran, Shaza A. Fadel, Darine El‐Chaâr, Kathryn Bocking, Heather Scott, Krista Cassell, Lynn Murphy‐Kaulbeck, Rohan D’Souza, Sela Grays, Sarah Saunders, Tatiana Sotindjo, Suraya Bondy, Manish Sadarangani, Erin Fraser, Melissa H. Watt, Gina Ogilvie, Modupe Tunde‐Byass, Verena Kuret, Vanessa Poliquin, Fatima Kakkar, Sandra Blitz, Joan Crane, George Carson, Ianna Folkes
article en
4 citations

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic posed a unique set of risks to pregnant women and pregnant people. SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy is associated with increased risk of severe illness and adverse perinatal outcomes. However, evidence regarding the use of COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy shows safety and efficacy. Despite eligibility and recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination among pregnant women and pregnant people in Canada, uptake remains lower compared to the general population, warranting exploration of influencing factors. The COVERED study, a national prospective cohort, utilized web-based surveys to collect data from pregnant women and pregnant people across Canada on COVID-19 vaccine attitudes, uptake, and hesitancy factors from July 2021 to December 2023. Survey questions were informed by validated tools including the WHO Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (VHS) and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Of 1093 respondents who were pregnant at the time of the survey, 87.7% received or intended to receive a COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy. TPB variables such as positive attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines (OR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.08-1.14), direct social norms, and indirect social norms were significantly associated with vaccine acceptance. Perceived vaccine risks, assessed by the WHO VHS, were greater in those not accepting of the vaccine. Our study identified several key factors that play a role in vaccine uptake: perceived vaccine risks and safety and social norms. These findings may guide public health recommendations and prenatal vaccine counseling strategies.

Human Vaccines & ImmunotherapeuticsVol. 21(1)
Mount Sinai Hospital (CA), St. Michael's Hospital (CA), Dalhousie University (CA), Memorial University of Newfoundland (CA), University of British Columbia (CA), University of Ottawa (CA), University of Calgary (CA), University of Toronto (CA), Montfort Hospital (CA), Government of New Brunswick (CA), Horizon Health Network (CA), University of Saskatchewan (CA), Public Health Ontario (CA), Women's Health Research Institute (CA), BC Children's Hospital (CA), B.C. Women's Hospital & Health Centre (CA), University of Manitoba (CA), Université de Montréal (CA), McMaster University (CA)
McMaster University, Public Health Agency of Canada, Public Health Agency, Dalhousie University, University of Toronto, Memorial University of Newfoundland
Openalex Percentile: Top 3%
COVID-19 Impact on Reproduction
8.23
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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