Background: Living organ donation declined substantially in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic due to concerns about donor and transplant candidate safety. COVID-19 vaccines might increase confidence in the safety of living organ donation during the pandemic. We assessed informational preferences and perspectives about COVID-19 vaccines among US living organ donors and prospective donors.
Methods: We conducted a national survey study of organ donors and prospective donors on social media platforms between 12/28/2020-2/23/2021. Survey items included multiple choice, visual analog scale, and open-ended responses. We examined associations between information preferences, history of COVID-19 infection, influenza vaccination history and COVID-19 vaccine acceptance using multivariable logistic regression and performed a thematic analysis of open-ended responses.
Results: Among 342 respondents from 47 US states and the District of Columbia, 35% were between 51-70 years old, 90% were non-Hispanic white, 87% were women; 82% were living donors (94% kidney) and 18% in evaluation to donate (75% kidney).The majority planned to or had received COVID-19 vaccination (76%), whereas 11% did not plan to be receive a vaccine, and 12% were unsure. Adjusting for demographics and donor characteristics, respondents who receive yearly influenza vaccinations had higher COVID-19 vaccine acceptance than those who do not (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] 5.06, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 2.68-9.53). Compared to respondents who prioritized medical information sources (e.g., personal physicians and transplant providers), those who prioritized news and social media had lower COVID-19 vaccine acceptance (aOR 0.34, 95% CI 0.15-0.73). Low perceived personal benefit from vaccination and uncertainty about long-term safety were common themes among those declining COVID-19 vaccines.
Conclusions: Donor informational source preferences were strongly associated with the likelihood of accepting a COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccine guidance for organ donors who are unsure about COVID-19 vaccines could incorporate messaging about safety and benefits of vaccination for healthy people.
Keywords: COVID-19; kidney transplant; liver transplant; living donor; organ donation; vaccines.