Page 221 - GHES-3-3

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

neutral. In contrast, most respondents (135/166, 81.3%)
reported experiencing anxiety or depression due to the
mandates, with close to one-fourth (39/166, 23.5%)
agreeing (15/166, 9%) or strongly agreeing (24/166,
14.5%) that they had experienced suicidal thoughts due
to employer vaccination requirements. In addition, close
to half (76/166, 46%) agreed (22/166, 13.3%) or strongly
agreed (54/166, 32.5%) that they had sought help from a
counselor due to situations arising from these requirements.
Most respondents (139/166, 84%) agreed (26/166, 16%)
Figure 1. COVID-19 vaccination status
or strongly agreed (113/166, 68.1%) that their personal
relationships had suffered due to situations arising from
23.1%) and the second doses (1/13, 8%). About one-third of mandated vaccination. Most non-compliant respondents
vaccinated respondents (4/13, 31%) did not communicate (119/138, 86.2%) agreed (31/138, 22.5%) or strongly agreed
their reaction to a doctor, while almost half (6/13, 46.2%) (88/138, 64%) that being terminated had a negative impact
did. Among those who communicated their reaction to a on their mental health. Most respondents (145/166, 87.3%)
doctor, only a minority of them (1/6, 17%) filed a report, also agreed (8/166, 5%) or strongly agreed (137/166, 82.5%)
while half of them did not file a report (3/6, 50%), and one- with the statement, “I feel I have been unfairly treated
third of them (2/6, 33.3%) did not know if a report had by my employer regarding vaccination requirements”
been filed. More than half of the vaccinated respondents (Table 3). Finally, while about half of the respondents
(7/13, 54%) reported that after experiencing an adverse (85/166, 51.2%) reported good (32/166, 19.3%) or very
reaction, their employer still required additional doses good (53/166, 32%) physical health, over one-third of the
(Table 2). respondents (57/166, 34.3%) reported experiencing better
3.3. Personal and family impact of vaccination physical health before COVID-19. This change was even
policies more marked for mental health, which most respondents
(86/166, 52%) rated as good (48/166, 29%) or very good
Most respondents (121/166, 73%) agreed (17/166, 10.2%) (38/166, 23%). However, most respondents (97/166,
or strongly agreed (104/166, 63%) that their current 58.4%) also rated their mental health as having been better
income was lower than their previous income before the before COVID-19 (Figures 2 and 3).
introduction of vaccination mandates. Not surprisingly,
most respondents who were laid off (120/138, 87%) 3.4. Workplace and labor market impact of
also agreed (12/138, 9%) or strongly agreed (108/138, vaccination policies
78.3%) that being terminated had significantly reduced Nearly three-quarters (133/166, 80.1%) of the respondents
their income. Responses regarding the impact of reported that they had been terminated due to their
vaccination policies on physical health showed greater decision to not be vaccinated, either not at all or after
variability - where about half of the respondents chose partial compliance with vaccination requirements (e.g.,
“not applicable,” which is unsurprising since most of the rejecting a mandated booster dose after having received
respondents were unvaccinated. However, a minority two doses, which at one point was considered “full
(33/166, 20%) of the respondents reported that they vaccination”). In addition, a large minority (70/166,
agreed (11/166, 7%) or strongly agreed (22/166, 42.2%) of the respondents reported that they had been
13.3%) that their physical health had worsened after subjected to disciplinary measures other than termination,
the mandates were implemented, while the remainder such as accusations of professional misconduct, reports to
(40/166, 24.1%) were neutral (8/166, 5%), disagreed licensing colleges, temporary suspension of pay, exclusion
(18/166, 11%), or strongly disagreed (14/166, 8.4%) from pension plans, or withdrawal of their professional
(Table 3). license (Table 4). Finally, most respondents (132/166,
Similarly, responses regarding whether the respondents 79.5%) agreed (25/166, 17%) or strongly agreed (107/166,
had suffered physical disabilities due to vaccination 64.5%) that after the introduction of vaccines or vaccination
requirements were also mixed, with close to one-fourth policies, they experienced conflict among colleagues. Most
(40/166, 24.1%) disagreeing (20/166, 12%) or strongly respondents (131/166, 79%) also agreed (23/166, 14%) or
disagreeing (20/166, 12%), about one-tenth (15/166, 9%) strongly agreed (108/166, 65.1%) that after vaccination
agreeing (5/166, 3%) or strongly agreeing (10/166, 6%), mandates were introduced, they experienced conflict
and a slightly smaller percentage (9/166, 5.4%) remaining between employees and management. In addition, most

Volume 3 Issue 3 (2025) 213 https://doi.org/10.36922/GHES025080014