COVID-19 vaccination recommendations and practices for women of reproductive age, U.S. Physicians, Fall 2021

Mehreen Meghani; Lauren B Zapata; Kara Polen; Romeo R Galang; Hilda Razzaghi; Dana Meaney-Delman; Sascha Ellington

doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102141

COVID-19 vaccination recommendations and practices for women of reproductive age, U.S. Physicians, Fall 2021

Prev Med Rep. 2023 Apr:32:102141. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102141. Epub 2023 Feb 13.

Authors

Mehreen Meghani^{1

2}, Lauren B Zapata², Kara Polen³, Romeo R Galang², Hilda Razzaghi⁴, Dana Meaney-Delman³, Sascha Ellington²

Affiliations

¹ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Foundation, Atlanta, GA, United States.
² Division of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States.
³ Division of Birth Defects and Infant Disorders, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States.
⁴ Immunization Services Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States.

Abstract

Pregnant people with COVID-19 are at increased risk for severe illness and adverse pregnancy outcomes. COVID-19 vaccinations are safe and effective, including for pregnant and recently pregnant people. The objective of this analysis was to describe the extent to which primary care physicians across the United States report confidence in talking with female patients of reproductive age about COVID-19 vaccination, recommending COVID-19 vaccinations to pregnant patients, and offering COVID-19 vaccinations at their practices in fall 2021. We analyzed cross-sectional data from the Fall 2021 DocStyles survey, a web-based panel survey of U.S. primary healthcare providers (64% response rate). Family practitioners/internists, obstetrician-gynecologists, and pediatricians were asked about confidence in talking with female patients of reproductive age about COVID-19 vaccination, vaccination practices regarding pregnant patients, and offering COVID-19 vaccinations. We describe results overall and by select physician characteristics. Among 1501 respondents, most were family practitioners/internists (67%), 17% were obstetrician-gynecologists, and 17% were pediatricians. Overall, 63% were very confident talking with female patients of reproductive age about COVID-19 vaccination, 80% recommended pregnant patients get vaccinated as soon as possible, and 50% offered COVID-19 vaccinations at their current practice. Obstetrician-gynecologists were most confident in talking with female patients, but only one-third offered the vaccine at their practices. This analysis found that most physicians felt confident talking about COVID-19 vaccinations and recommended pregnant patients get vaccinated as soon as possible. Provider recommendation for vaccination remains a key strategy for achieving high vaccination coverage, and consistent recommendations may improve vaccine acceptance among pregnant and postpartum people.

Keywords: COVID-19 vaccination; DocStyles; Pregnant women; Primary care physicians; Reproductive health.