Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Student, Greenwood Laboratory School, Springfield, Missouri, USA
2 Caribbean Medical University School of Medicine, 25 Pater Euwensweg, Willemstad, Curaçao
3 Undergraduate Student, Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behavior Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
4 School of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 123 Stephen’s Green, Dublin, D02 YN77, Ireland
5 Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Vaccine hesitancy presents a major challenge during the COVID‑19 pandemic. It
is crucial to address the factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy necessary to control the associated
morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to investigate the impact of professional medical guidance
on the likelihood of receiving the COVID‑19 vaccine in immigrants of USA and Canada.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 92 immigrants in the USA and Canada who predominantly
spoke Malayalam were recruited using social media platforms. An online survey was administered
investigating participants’ confidence in receiving the COVID‑19 vaccine. Following, a short
webinar was conducted by a medical professional explaining the efficacy and safety of the vaccine.
A postwebinar survey was immediately given assessing the confidence and likelihood of receiving
the vaccine. SPSS was used to generate descriptive statistics and Pearson Chi‑square analysis
where appropriate.
RESULTS: Results revealed that participants who attended the webinar reported greater confidence
in receiving the COVID‑19 vaccine. There was a statistically significant difference between pre‑ and
postwebinar confidence scores for the COVID‑19 vaccine, 2 (12, n = 80) = 43.34, P < 0.01.
CONCLUSION: Results from the current study demonstrate the successful delivery of professional
medical guidance to the general public through online small‑group sessions to help address the
misconceptions surrounding the COVID‑19 vaccine and combat vaccine hesitancy among vulnerable
populations. Future studies should focus on interventions addressing vaccine hesitancy in larger and
diverse populations and analyze other barriers to vaccination.
Keywords
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