Page 217 - GHES-3-3

Global Health Economics and
Sustainability
COVID-19 vaccination decisions and mandate impact

employment (five questions); COVID-19 experiences (two of 45 – 54 years (55/166, 33.1%) and 55 – 64 years (46/166,
questions); informed consent (11 questions); vaccination 28%), followed by those aged 35 – 44 years (32/166, 19.3%).
decision-making (four questions); vaccine side effects Most respondents were women (112/166, 67.5%), middle-
(three questions); accommodations (three questions); the income (87/166, 52.4%), born in Canada (123/166, 74.1%),
personal impact of vaccination policies (nine questions); Caucasian or White (135/166, 81.3%), and married or
self-rated health changes (four questions); vaccination living with a partner (107/166, 65%). A large minority
requirements and employment status (two questions); (69/166, 42%) reported no caretaking responsibilities,
impacts of job termination (ten questions); impacts on whereas another slightly smaller minority (62/166,
patient care (24 questions); experiences of administering 37.3%) reported caretaking responsibilities for children or
COVID-19 vaccines (five questions); and an open-ended stepchildren, and a smaller proportion (26/166, 16%) had
question for further comments (one optional question). caretaking responsibilities for parents (Table 1).
Sections were automatically skipped depending on The most commonly reported profession or area
vaccination status or job termination for non-compliance of occupation was nursing (51/166, 30.7%), including
with mandatory vaccination. After informing respondents registered nurse/psychiatric nurse (25/166, 15.1%),
about the research purpose and data confidentiality, licensed practical nurse (5/166, 3%), nurse’s aide (16/166,
confirming that they worked or had worked in BC, and 10%), and nursing coordinator/supervisor (5/166, 3%).
obtaining informed consent, we collected information About one-third of respondents (55/166, 33.1%) reported
on their employment status and history, experiences with between six and 15 years of experience in their most recent
making vaccination decisions, the impact of the policy career, about one-fourth (43/166, 26%) had between 16
on their finances, personal and social relations, as well as and 25 years of experience, over one-fifth (39/166, 23.5%)
their mental and physical health, and their perspectives had over 26 years of experience, and a minority (19/166,
on the impact of the policy on patient care. As a token of 11.4%) had 5 or fewer years of experience. A large minority
appreciation, respondents were entered into a raffle for a (68/166, 47%) reported having more than 10 years of
$100 gift card (Supplementary Material 2). education/training, followed by nearly one-third (50/166,
30.1%) reporting 0 – 4 years of education/training, and over
2.1. Ethical considerations one-fifth (38/166, 23%) reporting 5 – 9 years of training.
The study was conducted based on the Declaration of About one-third of respondents (49/166, 29.5%) reported
Helsinki (as revised in 2013), and the study was approved working in the Interior Health region, followed by Fraser
by the York University’s Office of Research Ethics Health (40/166, 24.1%) and Vancouver Island Health
(No. 2023-389). Potential participants were provided with Authority (40/166, 24.1%). In addition, about one-fifth
an information letter and consent form, including details (34/166, 20.5%) were employed full-time, with a similar
on the study aims, methods, potential benefits and risks, number (34/166, 20.5%) being unemployed (Table 1).
and information regarding confidentiality and consent. 3.2. Vaccination decisions and experiences
They were also informed of their right to withdraw from
the study at any time without consequences. The online Most respondents (143/166, 86.1%) were not vaccinated
survey questions were only accessible to participants after (Figure 1). Of those who were vaccinated, more than half
providing their informed consent. had received a partial primary series of vaccination (7/13,
54%), over one-third had received a complete primary
2.2. Statistical analysis series of vaccination (5/13, 38.5%), a small minority (1/13,
Due to the exploratory nature of the study, we only 8%) had been boosted once, and no one reported being
performed a descriptive analysis of the data using Microsoft boosted twice or more. Most of the vaccinated respondents
Excel and transferred our findings into frequency tables. (10/13, 78%) were vaccinated primarily because it was
The authors met regularly to review the data, discuss the mandated for work, and a small minority (2/13, 15.4%)
analysis, and identify trends. were vaccinated to protect the larger community (1/13,
8%) or themselves (1/13, 8%) from severe outcomes.
3. Results Most vaccinated respondents (11/13, 85%) reported
experiencing adverse effects post-vaccination, whereas
3.1. Demographics
a small number (2/13, 15.4%) reported no such effects
While our recruitment materials stated that the study (National Cancer Institute, 2021). Adverse effects were
was open to participants of all vaccination statuses, the mild after the first (3/13, 23.1%) and the second doses
majority of the 166 recruited HCWs were unvaccinated. (2/13, 15.4%), moderate after the first (3/13, 23.1%) and
Most respondents (101/166, 61%) were between the ages thesecond doses (1/13, 8%), and severe after the first (3/13,

Volume 3 Issue 3 (2025) 209 https://doi.org/10.36922/GHES025080014