Survey: 1 in 9 Nurses Getting COVID Vaccine
Data from a new survey of more than 4,500 nurses nationwide conducted by the American Nurses Association (ANA) in conjunction with the COVID Vaccine Facts for Nurses campaign, highlights that the majority of nurses stand behind the science of the COVID-19 vaccines and support mandatory vaccinations for all employees. Comprised of ANA and 22 other leading nursing and health care organizations, COVID Vaccine Facts for Nurses is an education campaign that provides critical, current, and culturally sensitive COVID-19 vaccine information for the nation’s nurses.
“Nursing practice is both an art and a science. Nurses are highly skilled and knowledgeable health care providers, scientists and researchers, so they understand the rigor and effort behind developing the COVID-19 vaccines,” said ANA President Ernest J. Grant, PhD, RN, FAAN.
Nurses Support COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates
Many nurses who responded (58%) support mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations. This aligns with nursing’s own professional standards, which ethically obligate nurses to model the prevention measures recommended to their patients. According to findings of the survey, the majority of nurses (90%) are vaccinated against COVID-19 or plan to get vaccinated and say they are comfortable recommending COVID-19 vaccines (91%).
Nurses Say an FDA Approval Does Not Influence Their Support of the Science
Over half of nurse respondents (64%) say the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of COVID-19 vaccines does not influence their current position. The three COVID-19 vaccines currently being administered have received an “emergency use authorization” from the FDA and full approval is currently being sought. Nurses trust the science behind COVID-19 vaccines. Ongoing clinical trials, research, and evidence have demonstrated the safety profile of the COVID-19 vaccines – that they are stable and effective in preventing the spread of the virus as well as mitigating the impact of the highly transmissible and contagious Delta variant.
Nurses Will Get a COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shot, if Recommended
Overwhelmingly, the nurses surveyed reported that they are willing to get a booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine if recommended (85%). While COVID-19 vaccine boosters have yet to be authorized in the United States, nurses’ willingness to take them, if necessary, underscores their support for taking all recommended actions to protect themselves and those they encounter from the risk of serious illness and possible death from the virus.
Nurses Encourage the Public to Follow the Guidance of Health Officials
A majority of nurses surveyed (86%) say they have access to the most current and reliable information on COVID-19 vaccines. As nurses continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the nurses surveyed say they (87%) understand the urgent need to stay up to date on the latest developments and are referring their patients to trusted and credible authorities like the CDC and NIH.
“Nurses’ knowledge, coupled with their frontline experience caring for those with COVID-19 over the past 16 months, is evident by these survey findings,” said Dr. Grant. “By getting vaccinated themselves, supporting vaccine mandates, and ensuring that their patients have the most accurate and reliable information possible about the COVID-19 vaccines, nurses nationwide are fulfilling their professional and ethical obligations. We continue to urge the public to follow nurses’ example and get vaccinated to reduce the risk of further hospitalizations and deaths to end this pandemic.”
Vaccination is both a significant public health victory and a scientifically proven strategy to slow the spread of COVID-19 and prevent the loss of more lives, and nurses are playing a critical role in the monumental recovery efforts. For 19 consecutive years, nurses have been ranked as the most honest and ethical professionals in the nation. Americans trust nurses, and these latest survey findings demonstrate that the vast majority of nurses trust the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines.
