COVID-19 vaccination beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours among health and social care workers in the UK: A mixed-methods study.

BACKGROUND: The UK began delivering its COVID-19 vaccination programme on 8 December 2020, with health and social care workers (H&SCWs) given high priority for vaccination. Despite well-documented occupational exposure risks, however, there is evidence of lower uptake among some H&SCW groups. METHODS: We used a mixed-methods approach-involving an online cross-sectional survey and semi-structured interviews-to gain insight into COVID-19 vaccination beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours amongst H&SCWs in the UK by socio-demographic and employment variables. 1917 people were surveyed- 1656 healthcare workers (HCWs) and 261 social care workers (SCWs). Twenty participants were interviewed. FINDINGS: Workplace factors contributed to vaccination access and uptake. SCWs were more likely to not be offered COVID-19 vaccination than HCWs (OR:1.453, 95%CI: 1.244-1.696). SCWs specifically reported uncertainties around how to access COVID-19 vaccination. Participants who indicated stronger agreement with the statement 'I would recommend my organisation as a place to work' were more likely to have been offered COVID-19 vaccination (OR:1.285, 95%CI: 1.056-1.563). Those who agreed more strongly with the statement 'I feel/felt under pressure from my employer to get a COVID-19 vaccine' were more likely to have declined vaccination (OR:1.751, 95%CI: 1.271-2.413). Interviewees that experienced employer pressure to get vaccinated felt this exacerbated their vaccine concerns and increased distrust. In comparison to White British and White Irish participants, Black African and Mixed Black African participants were more likely to not be offered (OR:2.011, 95%CI: 1.026-3.943) and more likely to have declined COVID-19 vaccination (OR:5.550, 95%CI: 2.294-13.428). Reasons for declining vaccination among Black African participants included distrust in COVID-19 vaccination, healthcare providers, and policymakers. CONCLUSION: H&SCW employers are in a pivotal position to facilitate COVID-19 vaccination access, by ensuring staff are aware of how to get vaccinated and promoting a workplace environment in which vaccination decisions are informed and voluntary.

The way nurses are treated is a national tragedy.

Nurses are an invaluable resource. We look after the sick and care for the dying, often with little thanks.

An evidence-based approach to workforce race equality.

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Sir Andrew Cash invited me last summer to help develop a system-wide approach to race equality in the organisation.

Increase in number of senior BME nurses and midwives is great news.

In March, NHS England published the second Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) data analysis report. This analyses the differences in experience of black and minority ethnic (BME) and white staff in the NHS, across nine WRES indicators.

The NHS leads positive change for BME people in the workplace.

At the end of last month, I attended the launch of Race in the Workplace: The McGregor-Smith Review.

The NHS could learn from inspiring leaders like Barack Obama.

I remember November 2008 like it was yesterday. I was the lead for the NHS Leadership Academy's national Breaking Through programme for black and minority ethnic staff, and recall being at our annual conference bursting with pride at the news that Barack Obama had been elected president of the United States.

Dr. Williams, a video and the day my world changed.

The messages of a Harvard professor's talk underline how much we need the Workforce Race Equality Standard.

'Well functioning, diverse teams improve outcomes'.

October is Black History Month, where we celebrate the achievements and accomplishments of black people through the ages.

Resilience is key to good leadership.

As the dust settles in the US, and the world comes to terms with Donald Trump being the US president-elect, my thoughts are with Hillary Clinton.

Mary Seacole statue campaign epitomises the strength of nursing.

On the morning of 30 June in the grounds of St Thomas's Hospital in London, overlooking the Thames and the Houses of Parliament, the statue of Mary Seacole was unveiled.

Voices - Yvonne Coghill on how inclusivity would benefit the new nursing framework.

Last month, England's chief nursing officer Jane Cummings published a framework designed to help nurses deliver better patient outcomes and experience, while using resources more efficiently.

Voices - Seeing NHS care through a patient's eyes made me proud, says Yvonne Coghill.

Experiencing the NHS as a patient feels very different from being a member of staff delivering a service.

Workforce equality: raising the standard.

The NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard, which comes into effect this month, will require trusts to show progress against a number of indicators that reflect equality for staff.