Overcoming barriers
A lack of vaccine availability at the time of their appointment was the number one barrier to immunization. Also, a small number of people said knowing someone who had an adverse reaction to COVID-19 vaccination was a barrier for them. Ms. Gallagher explained that, by definition in the survey, an adverse reaction to vaccination had to be serious enough to drive people to seek medical care.
When asked to comment on the poster, Andrew Komensky, RN, told this news organization that he found the results “interesting, because I’m an infection preventionist, in addition to being an HIV nurse.” He is director of infection prevention and control at CharterCARE Health Partners, Providence, R.I.
Mr. Komensky said he was surprised that a high proportion of PLWH cited their doctor – and not their nurse – as the most trusted source of information. “In my experience in COVID care ... it was a nursing staff who had most of the contact with patients, who did most of the education, and provided most of the information surrounding vaccination and potential side effects.”
It made sense to Mr. Komensky that the PLWH population would be compliant with vaccinations. “People who are living with HIV do everything they possibly can just to stay healthy.”
A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.