Perspectives of the U.S. Paralysis Community on COVID Vaccines and Boosters

Claire Burdick

Including Disability Summit 2025

​

Background & Rationale

• Goal was to explore the perspectives of the paralysis community on COVID-19 vaccines and boosters
• The paralysis community includes persons with paralysis (PWP), their family members, caregivers, and health professionals
• Lack of research on vaccine hesitancy in this community
• Two research efforts conducted:
• Perspectives about COVID-19 vaccines (February 2021)
• Perspectives about COVID-19 boosters (December 2021 – January 2022)

​

2

Methods

• Online surveys distributed to Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation’s email list and social media pages
• Multiple choice and open-ended questions
• Questions covered demographic information, vaccine/booster beliefs, information and concerns about vaccines/boosters, and vaccination/booster plans

​

3

Participants

Vaccines – Feb 2021

• 1,017 respondents
• 831 PWP
• 185 family members/caregivers
• 51.1% female
• 86.3% white
• 49 states represented

​

​

Boosters – Dec 2021 to Jan 2022

• 774 respondents
• 470 PWP
• 304 family members/caregivers
• 57% female
• 84.5% white
• 49 states represented

​

4

Participants – Disability Demographics

Vaccines – Feb 2021

​

​

• 96.6% did NOT use a ventilator
• 94.5% used at least one type of mobility aid
• 47.4% used power wheelchair
• 43.2% used manual wheelchair
• 68.1% used caregiving services (family and/or professional)

5

Participants – Disability Demographics

Boosters – Dec 2021 to Jan 2022

​

​

• 97.3% did NOT use a ventilator
• 98.1% used at least one type of mobility aid
• 49.6% used power wheelchair
• 43.5% used manual wheelchair
• 67.4% used caregiving services (family and/or professional)

6

Results

• Participants generally agreed that they felt well-informed about the vaccines/boosters, that the vaccines/boosters were safe, and that PWP should be prioritized in receiving vaccines/boosters.
• In the booster study, PWP were less likely to agree that they felt well informed, that the boosters were safe, and that state and federal governments providing transparent information about the boosters.

7

Results

• In both studies, PWP were more likely than non-PWP to have discussed the vaccine or booster with a medial provider.

8

Results

• Shared concerns in vaccine study expressed by both PWP and non-PWP:
• Side effects and safety, pre-existing conditions, lack of research, allergies, childbearing, vaccine content
• Concerns expressed only by PWP:
• Issues with a previous vaccine, concerns about death, vaccine inaccessibility, vaccine efficacy, distrust, FDA approval
• Shared concerns in booster study:
• Distrust, belief booster is not needed, side effects, pre-existing conditions, lack of research, death
• Distrust was more often expressed by PWP and PWP expressed pre- existing conditions related to paralysis and neurological difficulties

​

9

Results

10

Conclusions & Implications

• PWP and non-PWP shared concerns about COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, but PWP had some unique concerns and hesitancies.
• PWP and non-PWP were equally likely to have been vaccinated and boosted, but among individuals who had not already received a booster, PWP were significantly less likely to plan to.
• PWP were more likely to discuss the vaccines with a medical provider, highlighting the importance of providers’ knowledge about vaccines and vaccine hesitancy in the paralysis community.
• PWP have specific concerns and hesitancies related to COVID-19 vaccinations and must be considered in public health efforts.

11

Questions?

• Feel free to contact me at claire.e.burdick@vanderbilt.edu !

12