Vaccination Access and Mental Health: How Place of Service and Distance Influence Wellbeing During COVID-19

PurposePrior research examining place of service and geographic accessibility during the COVID-19 pandemic has largely focused on the operational management of mass vaccination efforts, emphasizing aspects such as vaccine distribution, dose allocation, and user experience and satisfaction, but has paid less attention to the potential impact on mental health outcomes of vaccine seekers. This study examined the effects of different types of vaccination site and driving distance to vaccination sites on anxiety and depression among COVID-19 vaccine seekers.DesignCross-sectional analysis using data from PHQ-4 Covid-19, 2021.SettingSouthern California.SubjectsA total of 13 360 respondents from the dataset.MeasuresKey variables include anxiety, depression, place of service, travel distance, and individual-level and tract-level control variables.AnalysisMultilevel mixed-effect logistic regression models.ResultsThere is a significant positive association between receiving vaccinations at pop-up clinics and anxiety levels (OR = 1.251). Individuals vaccinated at pop-up clinics had a 25% higher likelihood of experiencing anxiety compared to those vaccinated at conventional outpatient clinics. A positive relationship was also observed between driving distance to vaccination sites and anxiety (OR = 1.088).ConclusionThe findings highlight the importance of considering the psychological impact of vaccination site selection and accessibility. To minimize anxiety, public health strategies should prioritize familiar and easily accessible vaccination locations.