@article{314f0bfe2dfa4869a2f62c073ec7126e,
title = "COVID-19 vaccine acceptability among people in Australia who inject drugs: Update from the 2021 Illicit Drug Reporting System interviews",
abstract = "People who inject drugs may be at higher risk of COVID-19 transmission and more severe negative health outcomes following COVID-19 infection. Early research on hypothetical COVID-19 vaccines suggests this population may be less likely to accept vaccination. This commentary extends this research by presenting vaccine intention data from Illicit Drug Reporting System interviews conducted in June–July 2021, in the early stages of vaccine rollout, with people in Australia who inject drugs (N = 888). Half the sample (48%, n = 419) reported that they were hesitant to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, with key barriers relating to vaccine safety and side effect concerns. This level of hesitancy is substantially higher than that of the general population at a similar time. While we note that the subsequent Delta variant-driven third wave of cases in Australia and efforts to increase population vaccination coverage may have altered intent in this group, this level of hesitancy warrants a targeted strategy to mitigate vaccine-related concerns and maximise uptake. Ideally, this should comprise an inclusive health response that is peer-led, with peer-based organisations ideally positioned to direct immunisation service delivery and provide vaccine-related messaging.",
keywords = "COVID-19, people who inject drugs, vaccination barriers, vaccine hesitancy",
author = "Olivia Price and Dietze, {Paul M.} and Lisa Maher and Sione Crawford and Amy Peacock",
note = "Funding Information: AP has received untied educational grants from Seqirus and Mundipharma for study of opioid medications. PMD has received untied educational grants from Gilead Sciences for work related to hepatitis C and an untied educational grant from Indivior. PMD has served as an unpaid member of an Advisory Board for Mundipharma. All other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare Funding Information: We would like to thank participants for sharing their time and expertise. We would also like to thank Prof Simon Lenton, A/Prof Raimondo Bruno, Dr Caroline Salom and all other members of the IDRS research team. Drug Trends (including the Illicit Drug Reporting System) and the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre are funded by the Australian Government Department of Health under the Drug and Alcohol Program. AP, LM and PMD are supported by National Health and Medical Research Council. Research Fellowships (#1174630, #1154839 and #1136908). The Burnet Institute gratefully acknowledges the funding provided under the Victorian Research Operating Infrastructure Fund. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 The Authors. Drug and Alcohol Review published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs.",
year = "2022",
month = feb,
doi = "10.1111/dar.13448",
language = "English",
journal = "Drug and Alcohol Review",
issn = "0959-5236",
publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell",
}