Likelihood of COVID-19 Vaccination Among Individuals Living With Psoriatic Disease: Results From a Large Real-World Survey

Abstract

Introduction: Development and dissemination of novel COVID-19 vaccines represent an opportunity to end the COVID-19 pandemic by vaccinating an estimated 80% of the population. Objectives: This study examines perceptions, and demographic and clinical factors influencing the likelihood of adults with psoriasis receiving a novel COVID-19 vaccine. Methods: A cross sectional study conducted from October–November 2020 of 1405 adults with psoriatic disease with prior contact to a patient advocacy organization. The main outcome of interest was the likelihood of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Chi-square tests and logistic regression examined the relationship between individual characteristics and likelihood of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Results: Most participants (65%) received a flu vaccination in the last 12 months and were (64.2%) likely to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, while 35.9% reported being unlikely receive a vaccine. Likelihood of COVID-19 vaccination was associated with receiving the flu vaccine, race, ethnicity, sex, BMI, age, income, severity of PsO and PsA. When controlling for ethnicity, race, male sex, overweight/obese status, age, biologic use, disease type, comorbidities linked with worse COVID-19 outcomes, PsA symptoms, and skin disease severity, individuals who received the flu vaccine and those with annual household income over $75,000 were most likely to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Conclusions: Vaccine hesitancy among individuals with psoriatic disease is considerable. Dermatologists and rheumatologists can increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake by actively engaging their patients on this topic using guidance published by the National Psoriasis Foundation on the management of psoriatic disease during the COVID-19 pandemic.