SARS-COV-2 VACCINATION HESITANCY IN WOMEN WHO DESIRE FUTURE FERTILITY/PREGNANCY

To evaluate the attitudes toward SARS-CoV-2 vaccination by partially or unvaccinated females who desire future fertility. An IRB approved electronic anonymous survey was sent to women ages 18-44 with a uterus seen at our institution between 2016 and 2021. We chose to exclude males, pregnant women, women without a uterus, fully vaccinated women, and partially vaccinated women who were unable to receive their second dose due to a medical reason or allergic reaction. To be deemed eligible, participants first answered a set of qualifier questions that determined vaccination status, pregnancy status, and whether the participant desired future fertility. Descriptive statistics were used to identify percentages of participants who chose a certain answer choice. Crosstabulations of data of particular interest were also performed. 683 subjects were consented and met study criteria. 605 (88.6%) submitted the survey of which 214 (35.4%) were currently attempting or planning pregnancy within a year and 319 (52.7%) in the next 1-5 years. Of the 605 respondents, 452 (74.1%) worried the vaccine would harm their baby and 428 (70.7%) worried the vaccine would decrease their chances of becoming pregnant. Of these participants, 249 (48.5%) stated they would reconsider their choice not to vaccinate if given information by a trusted source; the most common source being a healthcare provider. Women were not influenced by a family member or friend's decision to not vaccinate (496 (82.0%)). A majority of unvaccinated women were hesitant to receive the vaccine at least partially due to fear of harm to their baby or fertility, and a large subset responded that they would be willing to reconsider vaccination if given more information by a healthcare provider.