COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Women’s Reproductive Health Concerns

Purpose: To understand variables involved in COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in women, including sociodemographics and concerns regarding the vaccine’s effects on reproductive health. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Subjects: 617 adult females. Measures: Demographics; adult Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (VHS); time between COVID-19 vaccination eligibility and vaccination; medical conditions; gynecologic history; menstrual cycle changes related to COVID-19 vaccination, infection, and stress; levels of worry regarding effects of the vaccine on reproductive health. Analysis: Wilcoxon rank-sum, Kruskal-Wallis, Chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests, linear regression. Results: Women without a college degree had higher VHS scores (P < 0.002) and waited longer to get vaccinated once becoming eligible (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in vaccine hesitancy between women of reproductive age and older women. VHS scores were significantly higher for women worried about adverse effects of the vaccine on reproductive health (P < 0.001). Women not using hormonal contraception were more likely to report late onset of their cycle after receiving the vaccine compared to those using hormonal contraception (P = 0.018). Conclusion: Greater vaccine hesitancy was associated with concerns around the vaccine’s effects on reproductive health and lower levels of total education achieved. This study highlights specific concerns women have related to COVID-19 vaccination, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing reproductive health information in the development and dissemination of novel vaccines.