Couples and COVID-19 vaccination: Frequency and reasons for discordance

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of concordance and discordance in the COVID-19 vaccination status of intimate couples. Partners are well known to influence each other's health behaviors, but previous reports of couples' COVID-19 vaccination status were not found. Among 1305 respondents to an on-line survey who were living with their partners, couples' COVID-19 vaccination status was 15.63% discordant and 84.37% concordant. Different potentially modifiable reasons for being unvaccinated were emphasized by unvaccinated participants with vaccinated partners and by vaccinated participants with unvaccinated partners. This study provides an estimate of the proportion of couples with discordant COVID-19 vaccine status. The development of tailored, scalable interventions potentially involving the partner might increase the COVID-19 vaccine concordance rate.

Keywords: Beliefs and cognitions; COVID-19; Couples; Psychosocial factors; Social determinants of health; Vaccines.