Self-reported COVID-19 vaccination acceptance and hesitancy among autistic adults.

Researchers studied why some autistic adults got COVID-19 vaccines while others didn't. Adults who got vaccinated were more likely to feel lonely during COVID, live in bigger cities, and want to protect other people. They also trusted that vaccines were safe and worried about catching COVID. Adults who didn't want vaccines were mainly concerned about vaccine safety, but weren't necessarily unconcerned about COVID itself.

Understanding these differences can help create better health messages for autistic people.

This 2022 study examined COVID-19 vaccination acceptance among autistic adults, identifying factors that distinguished vaccine accepters from those who were hesitant. Vaccine accepters were more likely to report increased loneliness during the pandemic, live in more populated counties, and reside in areas that voted for President Biden. Strong positive correlations emerged between vaccination acceptance and desire to protect others, concern about contracting COVID-19, and trust in vaccine safety. Among vaccine-hesitant individuals, concerns about vaccine safety were common, though lack of concern about COVID-19 overall was not a significant factor.

The findings highlight the importance of understanding lived experiences of vulnerable populations for developing targeted health promotion strategies.

Healthcare providers should address vaccine safety concerns through clear, evidence-based communication with autistic adults. Emphasizing protection of others and addressing social isolation may increase vaccination acceptance. Geographic and political context should be considered when developing vaccination promotion strategies for this population.

Sample size not reported, limiting assessment of study power. Study type unclear, preventing evaluation of methodology strength. Self-reported data may introduce bias. Cross-sectional design cannot establish causality between identified factors and vaccination decisions.

Identifying factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination acceptance among vulnerable groups, including autistic individuals, can increase vaccination rates and support public health. The purpose of this study was to determine differences among autistic adults who reported COVID-19 vaccination acceptance from those who did not. In this study we describe COVID-19 vaccination status and self-reported preferences among autistic adults and identify related factors. Vaccine accepters were more likely to report increased loneliness during COVID-19, lived in more populous counties (p = 0.02), and lived in counties won by President Biden in the 2020 US presidential election (p < 0.001).

Positive correlations were found between desire to protect others, concern about contracting COVID-19, and trusting vaccine safety (p < 0.001). Concern about vaccine safety was common among the vaccine hesitant, while lack of concern about COVID-19 overall was not. Identifying health promotion strategies based on self-reported, lived experiences about COVID-19 among vulnerable groups is key for public health impact.