Strategies to Address COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Ohio Nursing Home Staff

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Despite federal legislation requiring nursing home (NH) staff members to be vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), unvaccinated staff pose an ongoing public health risk. The research question guiding this study is as follows: What is the relationship between strategies to address vaccine hesitancy and vaccination rates among staff? We used the diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory as a theoretical framework. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The sample (N = 627) included Ohio-based NHs. Using national and state NH data, multivariable linear regression techniques demonstrated the relationship between strategies to address vaccine hesitancy and vaccination rates among NH staff. RESULTS: Peer counseling and providing sick time or time off for vaccine symptoms were both statistically significant strategies. Compared to facilities that did not engage in peer counseling, those that did saw an average increase of 3.2% of their staff vaccinated. Those that provided sick time or time off saw an average increase of 3.9% of their staff vaccinated. There was no statistically significant relationship between hiring full- or part-time facility infection preventionists and vaccination rates. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: In order to foster vaccine confidence among long-term services staff, peer counseling, and providing sick time or time off are examples of strategies that can affect vaccination rates among staff. According to DOI, these strategies target the communication channels and social systems of an organization. While this study focuses on NHs, results remain critically important to the remainder of the long-term services system, which does not have vaccine requirements similar to the NH industry.